FM Katz rejects Islamic Republic portrayal of drone attack on Caesarea residence as solely the work of its Lebanese proxy: ‘You’re responsible’; Knesset speaker: ‘They’ll be sorry’ Israeli politicians aimed their rhetoric in Iran’s direction on Saturday evening, vowing Tehran would “pay a price” for a drone attack by Tehran’s Lebanese proxy Hezbollah that targeted the home of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as the Islamic Republic sought to downplay its ties to what the premier’s office has said was an attempted assassination.

Three drones were launched from Lebanon in the attack targeting the prime minister’s private residence on Saturday morning. Two were intercepted over Rosh Hanikra and Nahariya, but the third exploded in the central seaside town of Caesarea, known for its high-end villas and Roman ruins.

The premier and his wife were not home at the time of the attack.

An Axios report said that the drone hit the prime minister’s house. “This is the first time since the beginning of the war that a target affiliated directly with Netanyahu has been hit,” it reported, without elaboration. The Guardian also said the house was hit and sustained “superficial damage.”

The Kan public broadcaster reported that property tax officials and a gardener had visited Netanyahu’s home after the attack. After initially confirming that his home had been the target of the drone strike, Netanyahu said in a follow-up statement later on Saturday that “the agents of Iran who tried to assassinate me and my wife today made a bitter mistake.”

His words were echoed by many of his government ministers and opposition lawmakers, as well as allies further afield, many of whom warned that Iran would be made to regret the actions of its proxy Hezbollah. The attack was essentially on “the State of Israel and its government symbols,” Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said. Touting Israel’s achievements in dismantling Hamas and degrading Hezbollah’s capabilities, Gallant warned that Israel’s security establishment would “continue to attack any terrorist actors and will strike with force any enemy that harmed or tries to harm the State of Israel.”

“Our actions all over the Middle East have proven this to date, and will prove it in the future as well,” the defense minister continued. “The attempts of the Hezbollah organization to discourage us and prevent us from achieving the goals of the war will not succeed.”

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, meanwhile, said that Iran, “by means of its proxy Hezbollah,” had made “a big mistake.”

He said that there was a difference between Israel’s attacks on terror chiefs — including those of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps — and the attempt on Netanyahu’s life.

Israel has made clear that it seeks to eliminate the heads of terror groups, Ohana said, but Israel is a democratic, sovereign state whose prime minister has now been targeted.

“Doing so was a big mistake and they will pay a price,” he repeated. “In my opinion, incidentally, after they pay the price they’ll be sorry they ever learned to fly a paper plane, never mind a drone.”

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