Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused Hezbollah, a militant group backed by Iran, of attempting to assassinate him and his wife.
In a statement posted on his verified Twitter account, Netanyahu described the assassination attempt as a “grave mistake,” declaring that it would not deter him or the State of Israel from continuing their fight against what he called Israel’s enemies.
The attempt on Netanyahu’s life underscores the growing tensions between Israel and Iranian-backed groups such as Hezbollah, which has been involved in hostilities against Israel for decades. Netanyahu used the opportunity to send a direct message to Iran and its allies, whom he referred to as being part of an “axis of evil.”
“I say to Iran and its proxies in its axis of evil: Anyone who tries to harm Israel’s citizens will pay a heavy price,” Netanyahu warned. He emphasized that Israel would continue to target not only terrorists but also those who sponsor and send them. “We will continue to eliminate the terrorists and those who dispatch them,” he declared.
Netanyahu also addressed the issue of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, vowing to bring them home. In the aftermath of the October conflict between Israel and Hamas, several Israeli civilians and soldiers were taken captive, raising concerns about their safety. Netanyahu has made it a priority to secure their release.
“We will bring our hostages home from Gaza,” he promised. He also highlighted Israel’s commitment to securing the safety of its citizens living along the northern border, where Hezbollah has strongholds and regularly poses threats to Israeli towns. “We will return our citizens who live on our Northern border safely to their homes,” he said.
The Israeli Prime Minister further reiterated his government’s resolve to achieve all of its war objectives, aiming to create a new security reality in the region. “Israel is determined to achieve all our war objectives and change the security reality in our region for generations to come,” he stated.