Netanyahu accuses ‘Iranian proxies’ for assassination attempt after drone attack on his home

By Said Amori

JERUSALEM (AA) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused "Iranian proxies" of attempting to assassinate him and his wife, following a drone attack on his private residence.

“The agents of Iran who tried to assassinate me and my wife today made a bitter mistake,” said Netanyahu, according to the Times of Israel.

The prime minister’s office said the drone from Lebanon targeted Netanyahu's private home in Caesarea in northern Israel.

It added that the premier and his family were not home at the time of the attack.

Israel has not immediately released details about damage from the attack, amid military and political censorship.

The blame on Iran coincides with Israel's preparations for a “significant” military strike against Iran, following a missile attack by Tehran on Tel Aviv earlier in October.

Israeli Channel 12 reported that an initial investigation revealed the drone involved was a "Hunter 107," which is difficult to detect and intercept.

That type of drone was also used in a recent attack on a Golani Brigade training base, resulting in the deaths of four soldiers and injuries to dozens.

The drone is tactical, with a range of 100 kilometers (60 miles) with a wingspan of 1.5 - 2 meters (5 feet -- 16 feet), designed for intelligence gathering and attacks.

The attack coincided with the Sabbath -- a day when Jews typically stay home and avoid work.

Hezbollah announced Thursday that it was moving to a "new and escalatory phase" in the confrontation with Israel.

Israel has mounted a huge air campaign against Lebanon since Sept. 23 for what it claims are Hezbollah targets, displacing more than 1.34 million people.​​​​​​​

The aerial campaign is an escalation from a year of cross-border warfare between Israel and the Lebanese group since the start of Tel Aviv’s offensive on the Gaza Strip, in which Israel has killed over 42,500 people, most of them women and children, since an attack by Hamas last year.

Despite international warnings that the Mideast was on the brink of a regional war amid Israel’s relentless attacks on Gaza and Lebanon, Israel expanded the conflict by launching an incursion into southern Lebanon on Oct. 1.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala