Source India Today
JERUSALEM / TEHRAN – Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a chilling vow to “pursue and kill” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, labeling him a “child-killer” just hours after his office was forced to debunk viral rumors of his assassination.
The escalating rhetoric comes amid a period of intense regional instability. On Sunday, the IRGC released a statement via state media outlets, including the Fars News Agency, directly addressing the Israeli leader’s status.
“If this child-killing criminal is alive, we will continue to pursue and kill him with full force,” the Guards stated. The message further suggested that the “unknown fate” of the Prime Minister pointed to a “crisis and faltering situation” within the Israeli government.
The “Six Fingers” Conspiracy
The IRGC’s threats follow a weekend of frenzied speculation on social media. Rumors that Netanyahu had been assassinated gained traction after users analyzed a video posted to his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday.
Skeptics pointed to a perceived “AI glitch” at the 35-second mark of the footage, claiming the Prime Minister appeared to have six fingers on his right hand. This led to widespread theories that the video was deep-faked to hide his death or incapacitation. Conservative commentator Candace Owens added fuel to the fire, questioning the Prime Minister’s whereabouts and alleging “mass panic” at the White House.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) moved quickly to quell the panic, telling the Anadolu Agency on Saturday:
“These are fake news; the Prime Minister is fine.”
Fact-checkers and AI analysts have since clarified that the “sixth finger” was likely an optical illusion caused by shadows and the natural shape of the palm.
Regional Conflict Intensifies
The war of words is playing out against the backdrop of a significant military escalation. Tensions spiked following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on February 28, which reportedly resulted in the death of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In the weeks since:
Retaliatory Strikes: Iran has launched numerous drone and missile barrages, targeting Israel and regional bases hosting U.S. forces in Iraq and Kuwait.
Maritime Disruption: Tehran has effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a move that has sent global oil prices soaring and disrupted roughly 20% of the world’s liquefied natural gas trade.
Humanitarian Toll: Casualties continue to rise on both sides, with Iran reporting a recent missile strike on an industrial area in Isfahan that killed at least 15 people.
While Israel has dismissed the assassination rumors as psychological warfare, the IRGC’s explicit vow to target Netanyahu suggests that the “shadow war” between the two nations has entered its most volatile chapter yet.
