IRI attacks Israeli "military target"; Netanyahu's residence hit by explosive drone

Shafaq News/ The Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI) announced on Saturday morning that it attacked a "military target" in northern Israel using drones, while media outlets reported on Saturday that a drone loaded with explosives targeted the home of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Islamic Resistance in Iraq

The IRI stated that its fighters “attacked a military target in the northern occupied territories using drones this morning, October 19, 2024.”

The IRI affirmed that the attacks were “part of our ongoing resistance to the occupation, in support of our people in Palestine and Lebanon, and in response to the massacres committed by the occupying entity against civilians, including children, women, and the elderly,” pointing out that operations would continue to target the “enemy strongholds” at an escalating pace.

This attack follows the drone strike on a “vital target” in Eilat, southern Israel, on Thursday.

While Israel often attempts to conceal its material and human losses, the Israeli army reported today that it detected a drone launched from the east that entered Israeli airspace and fell without causing injuries, although reports indicated direct damage to one of the buildings.

The army stated, "After the alarm sirens sounded at 03:35 in the northern Golan Heights, a drone launched from the east was detected crossing from Syria,” noting that the location of the drone's fall was identified in the area, with no reports of injuries. The Israeli army also indicated that alarm sirens were activated in northern Israel early today.

Since October 7, 2023, Iraq has ramped up its support for the Palestinian resistance in Gaza, intensifying military actions in the region. Iranian-aligned groups began attacking US military bases in Iraq and Syria shortly after the Gaza war erupted, with strikes escalating as Israel’s offensive against Lebanon unfolded.

Lebanese Hezbollah

The Hebrew newspaper "Yedioth Ahronoth" said that “a drone flew approximately 70 kilometers from Lebanon and directly hit a building in Caesarea, with debris also striking a neighboring building.” However, Netanyahu's office did not confirm whether the Prime Minister was present at his residence in the area.

Meanwhile, Israeli media reported that police closed streets in the city of Caesarea and prevented media from approaching the site of the drone crash.

Sources informed the 'Asharq News' website that a booby-trapped drone reportedly targeted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence in Caesarea, situated along the Mediterranean coast.

The spokesperson for the Israeli army pointed out that three drones crossed into Israel in the past hour, coming from Lebanon. “Two drones were intercepted, while the third struck a building in Caesarea without causing any injuries.”

Social media accounts circulated a clip showing what is believed to be one of the three drones flying next to an Israeli helicopter.

IAF Helicopter gives chase to a Drone in the Nahariyya Area pic.twitter.com/WklRJPgOl1

— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) October 19, 2024

In related incidents, Hezbollah confirmed on Saturday that its fighters targeted "a gathering of Israeli enemy soldiers in Jal Al-Deir northeast of the Avivim settlement with a rocket barrage."

In another statement, Hezbollah said it shelled a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the Al-Malikiyya settlement, as part of its efforts to "support our steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and to back their valiant and honorable resistance, as well as to defend Lebanon and its people."

In earlier attacks, Hezbollah revealed on Friday that it had launched rocket fire at the Pilon base in Rosh Pinna, east of Safed, and had deployed “a swarm of attack drones” against the Nashrim base southeast of Haifa.

Furthermore, the Lebanese party used "high-quality rockets" to target the Kiryat Eliezer site, the "main air defense base" west of Haifa, and targeted a Merkava tank in the vicinity of Al-Abad site with a guided missile, causing it to catch fire and resulting in casualties among its crew.

These attacks follow Hezbollah's recent announcement of a “new escalatory phase” in its confrontation with Israel, marking the first confirmation from the group of its use of “precision rockets” to target Israeli forces at the southern Lebanon border and in northern Israel.

Since the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza in October 2023, the Israeli-Lebanese border has seen near-daily exchanges of fire, as Hezbollah opened a “support front” for the Gaza Strip. Since September 23, Israel has significantly ramped up its operations, conducting lots of airstrikes daily on different areas across Lebanon, claiming to target “Hezbollah strongholds.”

The ongoing bombardment has killed over 2,412 people, including women and children, and injured 11,285 others, the Lebanese Health Ministry revealed.

In response, Hezbollah responds to Israeli attacks with rockets and drones, primarily targeting military installations, inflicting material and human losses.