A drone struck near the private residence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Caesarea on Saturday morning, but there were no casualties, as neither the prime minister nor his wife, Sara, were at home at the time, his office confirmed. The attack marked an escalation in the ongoing regional conflict, though Israeli air defenses intercepted two other drones fired from Lebanon, triggering air raid sirens in the Tel Aviv area.

In a separate incident, an Israeli airstrike hit Jounieh, a coastal town north of Beirut, Lebanon, killing two individuals. According to Lebanon’s health ministry, the strike targeted a vehicle on a major highway linking the Lebanese capital to the northern region. The attack is the first in the Jounieh area since the escalation of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel last year.

The drone strike on Netanyahu’s residence comes in the wake of heightened tensions following the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar by Israeli forces. Sinwar, accused of orchestrating the deadly October 7 attacks on Israel, was killed in a ground raid after a year-long manhunt. His death has been seen as a significant blow to Hamas, but Israel remains wary of further escalation in the region.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu hailed Sinwar’s death as a turning point in the conflict, which has also drawn in Hezbollah and other groups from Lebanon and Yemen. He described the killing as “the beginning of the end” but reiterated that the conflict could only cease if Hamas laid down its arms and released the 101 Israeli and foreign hostages being held in Gaza.

The Gaza conflict has claimed more than 42,000 Palestinian lives, with many more believed to be buried beneath rubble. As the war drags on, Netanyahu faces mounting pressure to bring an end to the violence while securing the release of captives before the situation worsens.

The situation remains highly volatile, with concerns of broader regional spillover as both sides brace for potential further escalation.