IRGC vows to kill Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Key Takeaways
- IRGC vows to pursue and kill Netanyahu if alive, promising to continue with full force.
- Threat follows death/missing rumours about Netanyahu; his office denied such reports.
- Statement issued on the 16th day of the Iran-Israel conflict amid ongoing hostilities.
IRGC Death Threat
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a direct death threat against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid escalating tensions in the ongoing West Asian conflict.
“IRGC vows to 'pursue' Netanyahu if 'still alive' The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) press department vowed that Iran would continue to "pursue" and seek to "kill" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he is "still alive", according to Tasnim News, AzerNEWS reports”
Iran's elite military force vowed to continue pursuing and killing Netanyahu 'with full force' if he remains alive, describing him as a 'criminal and child-killer' and 'Zionist criminal prime minister' in official statements.
The threat comes as the war between Iran, Israel, and the United States entered its 16th day, with cross-border attacks intensifying on multiple fronts.
The IRGC statement reflects deepening hostility in the region as Tehran responds to continued military strikes from Israel and the United States, which began on February 28 following the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Netanyahu's Denial
In response to the Iranian threats and swirling social media rumors, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office dismissed claims suggesting Netanyahu had been assassinated or injured in Iranian strikes as 'fake news.'
The office confirmed Netanyahu is 'fine' and safe, issuing a formal statement to Turkey's Anadolu Agency refuting the viral allegations.
The speculation began after Netanyahu posted a video address on March 13 that sparked debate online, with some users questioning whether the Israeli leader appeared to have six fingers on his right hand, leading to allegations that the video might have been generated using artificial intelligence.
Additionally, the absence of recent posts by Netanyahu's son, Yair Netanyahu, on the X platform for several days fueled further speculation about the Israeli leader's condition and whereabouts.
Video Speculation
The controversy surrounding the Netanyahu video address intensified after social media users claimed to have spotted what appeared to be an extra finger on his right hand in one frame, suggesting the footage might have been manipulated using artificial intelligence technology.
“The war in Iran continues amid cross-border attacks”
This 'six-finger controversy' led to widespread speculation that the video could be a deepfake or AI-generated content rather than authentic footage of the Israeli Prime Minister.
However, Grok, the AI chatbot on X, clarified that the apparent extra finger was merely a visual illusion caused by hand angles, shadows, or natural palm features, and not evidence of manipulated footage.
Despite this clarification, the video speculation continued to fuel confusion and uncertainty about Netanyahu's condition and the authenticity of his public appearances amid the ongoing conflict.
Military Operations
Amid the threats and rumors, Iran continued its military operations against Israeli and US targets, claiming to have carried out heavy missile attacks against industrial zones in Tel Aviv and US military bases in Kuwait and Iraq.
The IRGC announced that it had targeted positions in occupied lands and three US bases in the region as part of the 52nd stage of its retaliatory operations, described as 'Operation True Promise 4.'
Iranian forces reportedly launched heavy missiles at industrial areas in Tel Aviv, claiming the attacks caused casualties and triggered ambulance sirens across the city.
In response to the Iranian attacks, two people were lightly injured in Holon, central Israel, according to Israeli Channel 12.
Meanwhile, the United States and Israel continued their military strikes against Iran, targeting multiple sites in Iran's central province of Isfahan, where at least 15 people have been reported killed in the ongoing conflict.
Rhetoric Escalation
The Iranian embassy in South Africa issued an additional statement reflecting the depth of Tehran's hostility toward Netanyahu, declaring that 'It doesn't matter at all whether Netanyahu is dead or alive. A single strand of hair from a Minabi girl is worth more than his entire being.'
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This statement highlights the ideological dimension of the conflict and the dehumanizing rhetoric employed by Iranian officials toward the Israeli leader.
Meanwhile, PressTV reported that the IRGC had suggested Netanyahu may have fled Israel along with his family, claiming 'The unknown fate of the Zionist criminal prime minister and the possibility of his death or his escape, along with his family, from the occupied territories reveal a crisis and the faltering situation of the Zionists.'
The escalating rhetoric comes as US President Donald Trump indicated that Tehran wanted 'to make a deal' but that he 'doesn't want because the terms aren't good enough yet,' suggesting diplomatic efforts may be underway despite the ongoing military confrontation.
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