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Israel minister 'proposed killing Lebanon PM' over drone attack

Israeli minister 'suggested assassinating Lebanon PM' after Hezbollah drone attack on Netanyahu's home
MENA
2 min read
30 October, 2024
Israel's Channel 13 reported that Transportation Minister Miri Regev had suggested the assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati.
Transportation Minister Miri Regev suggested the killing of Mikati during an Israeli security cabinet meeting on Monday [Getty]

An Israeli minister has reportedly proposed the assassination of Lebanon's caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, in response to the drone attack on Benjamin Netanyahu's home which was launched by Hezbollah from Lebanon.

According to Israel's Channel 13, Transportation Minister Miri Regev suggested the killing of Mikati during an Israeli security cabinet meeting on Monday, during which the cabinet members were debating the possibility of carrying out another attack on Iran in response to the drone strike on Netanyahu's private home earlier this month.

Regev's suggestion was firmly rejected, according to the report.

Netanyahu's home in Caesarea was struck on 19 October by an explosive drone launched by Hezbollah in Lebanon. The drone had hit the glass in the bedroom window but did not penetrate the home, according to Israeli reports.

No injuries were reported and Netanyahu and his wife were not home at the time.

Ministers in the cabinet were told on Sunday that Israel's latest attack on Iran had not included a response to the drone attack, which Israel referred to as an "assassination attempt".

The report said that Israel's response to that attack would "look completely different" to the strikes that were carried out against Iran on Saturday.

The different possibilities of such a response were reportedly discussed "for hours" by ministers and security officials, and a full proposal was expected to be presented in the coming days.

On Monday, Tehran reiterated its commitment to retaliate against Israel's aerial attack on its territory and would use all available tools in its response.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei said during his weekly press conference that Iran would use "all means for a firm response to the Zionist entity", noting that the response would be proportionate to the nature of the Israeli attack.

The Commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, General Hossein Salami, also warned Israel of "bitter consequences" for the "unlawful" attack, adding that it had "failed to achieve its objectives due to the readiness of Iran's air defences".

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that the attack on Iran was "precise and powerful", claiming it accomplished all its objectives.