Reports have revealed an alleged Iranian attempt to target Yair Netanyahu, the eldest son of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while he was living in the US state of Florida, after an Iranian cell reportedly tracked him and monitored his home and daily activities.
After the alleged plot was uncovered, Yair Netanyahu, who was under Israeli security protection at the time, was instructed to leave his home immediately. He reportedly left some of his belongings behind and returned urgently to Israel, where he is currently living.
According to a report published by US network Newsmax, Israeli intelligence officials disclosed that an Iranian attempt to target Yair Netanyahu took place last December while he was residing in Florida.
The report said Iranian operatives were present in the Miami area, where they monitored Yair Netanyahu’s home in Hallandale Beach and tracked his daily activities.
Based on the intelligence received, an urgent warning was sent to US authorities.
Netanyahu’s son was subsequently ordered to leave his home immediately. The situation was reportedly considered so urgent that he was forced to abandon some of his belongings and return to Israel without delay.
Israeli commentator Ben Caspit said the full story was “far more dramatic”, but is currently prohibited from publication.
Netanyahu Says Iran Targeted One of His Sons
The details emerged after Netanyahu said in a televised address that Iran had “targeted” one of his sons and attempted to assassinate him.
He did not specify which of his two sons had allegedly been targeted, when the assassination attempt took place, or how far the alleged plan had progressed.
Information about alleged Iranian retaliatory intentions and attempts to harm senior officials had not previously been published in the media.
Netanyahu, however, chose to disclose the matter himself, using it to argue that security protection for members of his family is not a “luxury”.
“Without it, they will succeed,” he said.
Threats Against Political Families
The reported attempt to target Yair Netanyahu comes amid what the report described as escalating Iranian threats against the families of senior American and Israeli officials, with indications that Tehran and its allies are seeking to broaden the scope of such threats to include the relatives of political leaders themselves.
This week, Iranian state television broadcast a video targeting Barron Trump, the son of US President Donald Trump.
The video was titled, “Where and how should Barron Trump be killed?” and claimed that a reward of $10 million had been offered for information leading to his killing.
The US Secret Service said it was aware of the video and was dealing with threats of this kind.
Israeli security institutions have also warned of the possibility that Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas may seek revenge against individuals believed to have played a role in the heavy losses suffered by members of their axis during the years of war.
Security preparations reportedly cover ministers, prominent political figures, the military chief of staff, generals and other senior officers.
In some cases, concerns do not end once an official leaves office. The possibility that such figures could remain targets even after retirement is reportedly taken into account when determining their security arrangements.
