Israel–Iran war: IRGC vows retaliation as Netanyahu death rumours debunked
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Sunday threatened to “pursue and kill” Benjamin Netanyahu, describing the Israeli Prime Minister as a “child-killing criminal,” as the conflict involving Israel, Iran, and the United States entered its 16th day.
“If this child-killing criminal is alive, we will continue to pursue and kill him with full force,” the Guards said in a statement published on Sepah News, according to Agence France-Presse.
Israeli PM’s office denies assassination rumours
The threat came hours after Netanyahu’s office dismissed viral social media claims suggesting that the Israeli leader had been assassinated in an Iranian strike.
“These are fake news; the Prime Minister is fine,” the Prime Minister’s office told Anadolu Agency when asked about the growing number of online claims about Netanyahu’s death.
Several unverified reports circulating on social media had suggested that the Israeli leader had been killed or injured during Iranian retaliatory strikes.
Video speculation fuels rumours
The rumours intensified after Netanyahu posted a video of a press conference related to the conflict on X. Some users claimed to have spotted what appeared to be an extra finger on his hand, suggesting the video might have been generated using artificial intelligence.
However, Grok clarified that the apparent extra finger was a visual illusion caused by hand angles, shadows or natural palm features, not evidence of manipulated footage.
Speculation also grew afterNetanyahu did not post on X for several days, leading some users to suggest a possible family tragedy. However, there is no evidence linking his social media inactivity to any harm to the Israeli Prime Minister.
Netanyahu’s office reiterated that the Prime Minister is safe and continuing to carry out his official duties.
Conflict spreads across West Asia
The developments come amid escalating regional tensions following the killing of Ali Khamenei, reportedly in joint US-Israeli strikes on February 28.
In response, Iran has launched missile and drone attacks targeting Israeli and American military bases, embassies and infrastructure across several Gulf countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan.
The widening conflict has also disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime corridors through which roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies are transported.
The disruption has raised concerns about global energy markets and the stability of international oil supplies as tensions continue to escalate across the region.
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