Photo: Israeli security forces walk along a street leading to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in Caesarea on October 19, 2024, after a drone fired by Hezbollah from Lebanon targeted his house and exploded nearby. (Jack GUEZ / AFP)

By Smartencyclopedia with Agencies

In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing conflict, Israel reported a drone attack on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence on Saturday. While Netanyahu and his wife were not present at the time, the attack marked another significant moment as tensions flare on multiple fronts.

According to Israeli military sources, the drone launched from Lebanon targeted Netanyahu’s residence in Caesarea, a coastal town north of Tel Aviv. The incident occurred as Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group, unleashed a barrage of rockets into northern Israel from across the Lebanese border. One of the projectiles struck a building in Caesarea, and sirens sounded throughout the country, including in major cities like Acre and Haifa.

The attack from Lebanon resulted in one death when a man in Acre was hit by shrapnel, and at least five others were wounded in Kiryat Ata, a city in the Haifa region. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for launching advanced rockets at an Israeli military base in Haifa, further intensifying the northern battlefront.

Escalating Violence in Gaza

Simultaneously, the Israeli military continues its relentless air campaign against Gaza. Overnight strikes targeted the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern part of Gaza, killing at least 33 people, according to local civil defense agencies. The latest air raids follow a series of brutal assaults aimed at dismantling Hamas leadership, including the recent assassination of Yahya Sinwar, the group’s top leader accused of orchestrating the deadly October 7 attack on Israel.

Israeli forces have focused their operations on northern Gaza, accusing Hamas of regrouping and planning further attacks. However, the heavy bombardment has also led to a growing civilian death toll, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis. Gaza’s health ministry, run by Hamas, estimates over 42,000 people have been killed since the start of the conflict, with children making up a substantial portion of the casualties.

Growing Regional Tensions

The violence in both Gaza and Lebanon is drawing other regional players into the conflict. Israel and Hezbollah, both backed by powerful foreign allies, are locked in an increasingly dangerous exchange of fire. On Saturday, Israel responded with airstrikes on key Lebanese infrastructure, killing two people on a highway near Beirut.

Hezbollah, supported by Iran, has been a key player in the north, while Israel faces mounting threats from Iranian-backed factions across the region, including in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. On Saturday, Israeli officials confirmed they had intercepted drones launched from Syria, and tensions with Iran remain high. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that the “possibility of war in the region is always serious,” while Israel has vowed to retaliate for any further provocations.

Calls for Hostage Release and Ceasefire

International calls for a ceasefire and the release of hostages continue to mount. The conflict began when Hamas militants stormed Israeli towns and villages on October 7, killing over 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages. Since then, 97 hostages remain in Gaza, with no sign of their release as negotiations stall. The Israeli military confirmed that 34 hostages are believed to have been killed during the conflict.

US President Joe Biden, along with other Western leaders, has urged an immediate ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid to reach Gaza’s civilians. However, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu remains resolute, stating that while the death of Yahya Sinwar signals a turning point, the war is far from over.

For many Gazans, the reality is grim. “The war has not stopped, and the killings continue unabated,” said 21-year-old resident Jemaa Abu Mendi. With no end in sight, the region teeters on the edge of a wider war, as world leaders scramble for a solution to stem the violence.