Tensions in the Middle East escalated sharply on Sunday after Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a direct threat against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, vowing to “pursue and kill” him as the conflict between Iran and Israel entered its 16th day.
In a strongly worded statement, the IRGC described Netanyahu as a “child-killing criminal” and warned that the Iranian forces would continue hunting him.
“If this child-killing criminal is alive, we will continue to pursue and kill him with full force,” the IRGC said, signalling a further escalation in rhetoric as hostilities between the two nations continue to intensify.
The threat comes amid ongoing exchanges of military strikes between Iran and Israel that have widened the conflict across the Middle East.
At the same time, speculation about Netanyahu’s whereabouts has been spreading rapidly on social media, with several users claiming the Israeli leader has not been seen publicly for days.
The rumours intensified after a video released on March 12 surfaced online. In the clip, some users claimed Netanyahu appeared to have six fingers on one hand, prompting speculation that the footage might have been altered or generated using artificial intelligence.
In the video, the 76-year-old Israeli leader was seen addressing what was described as his first press conference since US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran began on February 28.
During his remarks, Netanyahu defended Israel’s ongoing military operations and issued a warning directed at Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
Meanwhile, rumours circulating online also suggested that the Israeli Prime Minister may have been assassinated during the conflict.
However, Netanyahu’s office dismissed those claims as completely false.
“These are fake news; the Prime Minister is fine,” Netanyahu’s office said in a brief response to queries from Anadolu Agency.
Despite the denial, Netanyahu’s office has not yet released a detailed statement addressing the speculation surrounding his public absence, allowing rumours to continue circulating online.
The latest threat from Iran underscores the rapidly escalating tensions in the region, as both sides continue to exchange military strikes and diplomatic warnings, raising fears of a wider conflict across the Middle East.
