Natenyahu

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a threat against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying it will pursue him and kill him.

The threat appeared in a statement released on Sunday through Sepah News, the official website of the IRGC. In the message, the Iranian military body described Netanyahu as a “child-killing criminal” and warned that it would continue efforts to locate him.

“If this criminal, the killer of children, is still alive, we will continue working to hunt him down and kill him with all our strength,” the statement reads.

The development came as speculation circulated on social media about the Israeli leader’s health and whereabouts.

Israel’s prime minister’s office dismissed the claims. It said the reports spreading online were false and confirmed that Netanyahu was in good condition.

“These are fake news; the Prime Minister is fine,” the office told Anadolu Agency in response to claims circulating on social media that Netanyahu had been killed in retaliation for the strikes.

The rumours intensified after a video of Netanyahu circulated online. Some social media users claimed the clip showed him with “six fingers”.

The unusual detail raised suspicion that the footage might have been created with artificial intelligence. This added to the speculation about the Israeli leader’s condition and location.

The IRGC’s threat comes as the confrontation involving Iran, Israel and the United States continues. The conflict has now entered its 16th day.

On the morning of February 28, the United States and Israel carried out air strikes inside Iranian territory.

Iran responded with military action. Its forces launched ballistic missiles and drones toward Israel. The country also carried out missile and drone attacks against United States bases and targets in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar and Jordan.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Germany has confirmed that Israel moved its official government aircraft to Berlin over the weekend amid escalating strikes involving Iran.

A spokesperson for Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday that the Israeli government sought permission to park the aircraft in Germany for security reasons. The request was approved.

Stefan Kornelius told reporters at a press conference in Berlin that no senior Israeli officials were on board when the plane arrived on Saturday.

“The Israeli government asked if they could park this plane here. We complied with that request,” he said.

He added that only the flight crew was present when the aircraft landed in Berlin.

The plane, known as the “Wing of Zion,” departed Israel on Saturday. Its movement led to speculation on social media that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might be travelling to Germany.

Flight tracking data showed the aircraft left Israel early in the afternoon. It remained over the Mediterranean Sea for several hours before heading to Germany. It later landed in Berlin that evening.

The Boeing 767 is specially configured for official overseas trips by Israel’s president and prime minister. Israeli media have reported that the aircraft is equipped with advanced secure communication systems.

The relocation took place as tensions escalated following strikes linked to the conflict between Israel and Iran. German authorities did not indicate how long the aircraft would remain in Berlin.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards announced on Monday that their missile attacks targeted the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the headquarters of the Israeli air force commander.

“The office of the criminal prime minister of the Zionist regime and the headquarters of the regime’s air force commander were targeted,” the Guards said in a statement carried by Fars news agency.

The statement confirmed that Kheibar missiles were employed in the operation.

Meanwhile, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian appointed Revolutionary Guards General Majid Ebnelreza as acting defence minister following the death of his predecessor in Israeli-US strikes.

“By order of President Masoud Pezeshkian, Revolutionary Guards general Majid Ebnelreza has been appointed as acting defence minister,” stated Mehdi Tabatabaei, deputy for presidential communications, in a post on X.

The developments come amid escalating tensions between Iran, Israel, and the United States, raising concerns over the potential for wider conflict in the region.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Flight records have indicated that the aircraft conveying Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu passed through the airspace of three member states of the International Criminal Court (ICC) even though an arrest warrant remains in force against him.

According to TRT World, data obtained from flight-tracking platform FlightRadar showed that the plane flew over Greece, Italy, and France while heading to the United States.

The ICC issued the warrant on November 21, 2024. The court accused Netanyahu of war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, where more than 72,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023.

Greece, Italy, and France are all signatories to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC. Member states are required to cooperate with the court. This obligation includes enforcing arrest warrants issued by the tribunal. Despite this responsibility, none of the three countries shut their airspace to the Israeli leader’s aircraft.

The route taken mirrors a similar journey in late December when Netanyahu also travelled to the United States for talks with President Donald Trump.

On earlier trips, the Israeli prime minister avoided certain national airspaces due to fears of possible arrest. During his visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly in September last year, his plane crossed Greece and Italy but did not enter French airspace, according to flight data from that period.

Netanyahu departed Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv on Tuesday. He is expected to meet President Trump in Washington for discussions centred on Iran.

The visit followed indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran held in Muscat, the capital of Oman. The talks came amid heightened regional tensions and a growing US military presence in the area.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

In a fiery speech at the United Nations General Assembly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state, accusing Western nations of rewarding terrorism and pushing Israel toward “national suicide.”

Addressing the assembly on Friday, Netanyahu sharply criticized recent decisions by Britain, France, and other powers to recognize a state of Palestine.

“Israel will not allow you to shove a terrorist state down our throats,” he declared, arguing that such moves send a message that “murdering Jews pays off.”

The speech came amid ongoing efforts by US President Donald Trump to secure a ceasefire in Gaza.

Trump, following Netanyahu’s address, stated, “I think we have a deal.” However, Netanyahu vowed to continue Israel’s military campaign against Hamas, promising to “finish the job.”

Netanyahu’s appearance at the UN was marked by controversy. Facing an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for alleged war crimes, he took an unusual route to New York.

As he spoke, several delegations walked out, and protesters gathered nearby calling for his arrest.

The Israeli leader aggressively defended his country’s actions in Gaza, challenging genocide allegations and stating that civilians were urged to flee.

The conflict, triggered by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack that killed 1,219 people in Israel, has resulted in over 65,549 Palestinian deaths, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Netanyahu also claimed parts of his speech were broadcast via loudspeakers in Gaza, aimed at both Hamas leaders and the remaining Israeli hostages, assuring them, “We have not forgotten you.”