Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Issue Threat Against Israeli PM Netanyahu

Tehran, March 15: Amid swirling speculation on social media regarding the safety of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Iran’s powerful paramilitary force, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has issued a sharp warning, declaring that it will relentlessly pursue the Israeli leader.

In a statement circulated through Iranian state media on Sunday, the IRGC accused Netanyahu of committing crimes against civilians and described him as a “child-killer”. The group asserted that if the Israeli premier is alive, it will continue its efforts to track him down with full force.

The statement came shortly after Netanyahu’s office rejected viral claims on social media suggesting that the Israeli leader had been assassinated. Officials from the Prime Minister’s Office clarified that the reports were completely false and confirmed that the prime minister is safe.

Rumours had intensified online following a video posted on Netanyahu’s account on the social media platform X. Some users alleged that the footage appeared manipulated after viewers claimed the prime minister seemed to have six fingers in the clip, leading to speculation that the video might have been artificially generated.

However, the platform’s artificial intelligence assistant, Grok, later dismissed these claims, stating that the unusual visual was merely an optical illusion and not evidence of manipulation.

Additional rumours also circulated online regarding Netanyahu’s son, Yair Netanyahu, with some users claiming his social media inactivity signalled a possible family crisis. These claims, however, remain unverified.

Hostilities between Israel and Iran have intensified over the past few years, particularly following the large-scale assault on Israel by the militant group Hamas on October 7, 2023. Israel accuses Iran of backing the group, which Tehran denies while supporting Palestinian resistance movements.

The rivalry further escalated last year when both countries became involved in a brief but intense 12-day conflict that also drew in the United States.

During that period, joint strikes carried out by the US and Israel reportedly killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, dramatically heightening tensions across the Middle East.

In response, Iran launched attacks targeting Israeli territory as well as US military facilities and allied positions across the region, pushing the confrontation toward a broader regional conflict.

The latest warning from the IRGC reflects the continuing hostility between the two adversaries, even as diplomatic negotiations involving Iran’s nuclear programme remain underway.