Flares land near Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's residence, security forces call it 'serious incident'

Benjamin Netanyahu and his family were not in the house at the time of the incident, AFP reported quoting Israeli security services.

Security services have described the incident as "serious".

"Two flares landed in the courtyard outside the prime minister's residence," police and the Shin Bet internal security agency said in a joint statement.

"The prime minister and his family were not in the house at the time of the incident. An investigation has been opened. This is a serious incident and a dangerous escalation," it said.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned the incident and warned "against an increase in violence in the public sphere.

"I have now spoken with the head of the Shin Bet and expressed the urgent need to investigate and deal with those responsible for the incident as soon as possible," Herzog said in a post on X.

It was not immediately clear who was behind the flares.

The incident comes after a drone attack targeting Netanyahu's residence on October 19, that was latter claimed by the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

Since September 23, Israel has escalated its bombing of Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.

They even sent ground troops after almost a year of limited, cross-border exchanges that Hezbollah militants started over the war in Gaza.