Netanyahu Claims 'Iran Tried To Assassinate One Of My Sons'

Previously, Iranian state media aired images which appeared to threaten President Donald Trump's son Barron Trump, and following this Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears to be seizing the moment.

Netanyahu has claimed in a phone interview with Israel's Channel 14 on Monday that Iran tried to assassinate one of his two sons. "Iran targeted one of my sons. Iran tried to kill, to murder one of my sons," he claimed.

"Therefore, the security they get is not a luxury," he added, in reference to his argument that the state must continue protecting his family for years to come - even if he loses the upcoming election.

He described that without this protection for at least five years, "they would succeed," referencing imagined would-be Iranian assassins.

Netanyahu has two sons, Yair and Avner, but he didn't specify if one or the other was under threat by an alleged assassination plot.

Avner lives in Israel, while Yair - the one who is much more visible and outspoken on social media - lives in a luxury area of Miami.

Israeli media further claims as follows: "A Channel 12 report says the alleged attempt took place at a time when Yair Netanyahu was not in Israel, but does not specify that Yair was the target."

The report also seeks to address why this is suddenly being "revealed" now:

The alleged assassination plot has been known to the Israeli security establishment for several months, the TV report says, but has been barred from publication by the military censor.

Israel has tended to push 'assassination plot' claims while offering no public evidence and at opportune times which seemed aimed at escalating Washington's involvement against Iran.

For example, back in July when Netanyahu was openly pushing against White House efforts to pursue a negotiated settlement with Tehran there was this:

Israel shared intelligence with the United States that Iran had recently devised a new plan to assassinate President Donald Trump, two sources familiar with the matter told CNN, adding another layer of tension as a ceasefire deal between the countries comes under strain.

One of the sources said the warning came this week. Another source said the US had picked up a steady drumbeat of intelligence in recent weeks about possible plans to assassinate Trump, but the warning from Israel was new and concerned a specific plot.

At the time, the White House did not seem too alarmed by the 'warning' - and hasn't made much reference to it since.

In the opening days and weeks of Operation Epic Fury, literally dozens of top Iranian government and military officials were assassinated - and in some cases their family members died in the same attacks. Israel's military owned up to many of these operations, boasting publicly during the height of the bombing campaign. 

This new claim by Netanyahu of covert plot against his family also comes just as Bessent unveiled a so-called Economic D-Day policy to strangle the Islamic Republic economically.