Israeli ministers have reportedly been informed that Hezbollah’s targeting of Benjamin Netanyahu’s home warrants a separate response.
According to the Hebrew-language Channel 13 network, Israeli ministers have been “clearly told” to expect another round of strikes on Iran in retaliation for Hezbollah’s drone attack on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted airstrikes on what they described as “military targets” in Iran on Saturday. These strikes, seemingly focusing on missile manufacturing facilities and air defense batteries, followed Iran’s launch of approximately 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, hitting two air bases, nearly a month prior.
During a cabinet meeting on Sunday, ministers were reportedly informed that a separate attack was being considered, specifically in response to the drone attack on Netanyahu’s home, which occurred less than two weeks ago.
”The ministers at the cabinet discussion were clearly told that the Israeli attack on Iran did not include the response to the sending of the UAV and that another response is expected,” Channel 13 reported, without disclosing its sources. The network did not specify who informed the ministers of the potential for further strikes.
Hezbollah announced last week that they took “complete and exclusive responsibility” for the attack on Netanyahu’s residence in the coastal town of Caesarea the previous weekend. Tehran provides political – and, according to Israel, financial and military – support to Hezbollah, which West Jerusalem considers an Iranian proxy force.
Netanyahu, who was not at his residence during the attack, stated afterwards that “Iran and its proxies” will “pay a heavy price.”
The response from Iran to Saturday’s strikes remains uncertain. In a speech on Sunday, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated that the impact of the Israeli attack “should neither be exaggerated nor downplayed,” and that Iran’s “response will be determined by senior officials, in a manner that best serves the interest of the people.”
However, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei warned that Tehran would utilize “all available tools” to “deliver a definite and effective response to the Zionist regime.”
The US State Department has labeled the Israeli airstrikes as “proportionate,” and urged Tehran to refrain from retaliating.