Where is Benjamin Netanyahu? Iran's state-run IRNA fuels Greece speculations

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Has Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fled the country? Amid heightened tensions between Iran and Israel following the unprecedented strikes that hit the nuclear enrichment complex in Natanz, there are multiple media reports claiming that Netanyahu has left the country. Iran’s sate-run Iran published a news article in English claiming that Netanyahu has fled to Greece. Interestingly, Irna has cited Israeli media reports for the claim.

Irna report claimed that Israeli media earlier released an image showing Netanyahu’s aircraft ‘Wing of Zion’ being escorted by two fighter jets, reportedly heading to an undisclosed destination outside the occupied territories.

Later, Israel’s Channel 12 reported that the plane had touched down in Athens, the capital of Greece. However, it should be noted that Tel Aviv has not issued any official confirmation or denial regarding the reports.

Earlier in the day, several to military commanders of Iran were killed in the Israeli strikes. Among those killed in the precision strikes were top Iranian military leaders: Major General Mohammad Baqeri, Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces; IRGC Chief Commander Major General Hossein Salami; and Major General Gholamali Rashid, Commander of the Khatam al-Anbia Headquarters.

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Nervous Israelis rushed to supermarkets in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and elsewhere to buy bottled water and other supplies, and circulated messages on WhatsApp groups advising each other to prepare their shelters for potential long-term use. In Iran, meanwhile, museums were shut down and began transferring valuable items to secure vaults to protect them, the state-affiliated Borna news agency reported.

(With inputs from Associated Press)