Netanyahu alleges Iran tried to assassinate one of his sons

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran had attempted to assassinate one of his sons, but gave no details about when or where the alleged plot took place or which son was targeted.

"This is an unbelievable case. Iran targeted one of my sons. Iran tried to murder him, tried to murder one of my sons," Netanyahu said in a phone interview with Channel 14, a conservative Israeli broadcaster.

Netanyahu's comments came as his coalition trailed in opinion polls ahead of Israel's general election in October and as the US and Israel wage war against Iran, reported AL Jazeera.

The conflict began with a joint US-Israeli strike on Tehran that killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and four members of his family, including his daughter Boshra and his 14-month-old granddaughter Zahra.

Dispute over security protection

Netanyahu made the allegation while responding to reports that an Israeli security agency had declined to provide a security detail for Gadi Eisenkot, a former army chief who is running neck-and-neck with Netanyahu for the prime minister's seat.

Netanyahu backed round-the-clock protection for Eisenkot, saying such measures were necessary because of the threat posed by Iran.

He said the protection was "not a luxury" and added: "Without that, [the Iranians] will succeed."

Netanyahu has a daughter and two sons. His two sons and his wife were granted extended personal protection by Israeli authorities in July.

His elder son, Yair, 35, has lived in Miami since early 2024. The arrangement has drawn controversy in Israel over the cost of taxpayer-funded security.

Iran vows retaliation

Iran's newly named Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, succeeded his father a week after his death and has vowed retaliation.

In a message published during his father's funeral ceremonies, Mojtaba Khamenei pledged to "avenge the blood" of Ali Khamenei.