Israeli Prime Minister appears alongside US envoy, addresses conspiracy theories and ongoing conflict remarks

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly dismissed viral rumours about his death, appearing in a fresh video alongside US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.

The video surfaced after days of speculation online, where misleading posts questioned his absence and circulated claims about altered footage showing him with “six fingers.”

In the clip, Huckabee jokes that US President Donald Trump had asked him to personally check on Netanyahu. Responding with humour, Netanyahu says, “Yes, Mike. Yes, I’m alive.”

Rumours and online claims gain traction

Speculation had intensified across social media as tensions escalated between Israel and Iran.

Some posts claimed Netanyahu had not been seen publicly, while others pointed to a previous video where his hand appeared unusual, fuelling conspiracy theories about manipulated or AI-generated footage.

Remarks on iran conflict

During the interaction, Netanyahu also made comments referencing Israeli strikes, mentioning Iranian figures including Ali Larijani and Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani.

Using a metaphorical tone, he spoke about “erasing names” from a list, while praising US support and reiterating Israel’s stance against Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Huckabee responded in a lighter tone, joking that his own name was not on the list, to which Netanyahu replied that he was among the “good guys.”

Earlier video mocked conspiracy

Before releasing this clip, Netanyahu had already addressed the rumours in another video posted online. Sitting at a café, he joked about being “dead for coffee,” using a phrase implying strong liking.

He also directly responded to the “six fingers” claim by showing both hands to the camera and inviting viewers to count his fingers.

The videos appear aimed at countering misinformation circulating online as geopolitical tensions continue in the region.

A senior US national security official has stepped down in protest against the ongoing war with Iran, citing moral concerns and disagreement with the administration’s decision.

Joseph Kent, who headed the National Counterterrorism Center, resigned from his post, stating he could not support the conflict “in good conscience.” In his resignation letter, Kent argued that Iran did not pose an “imminent threat” to the United States.

He also alleged that external pressure, particularly from Israel and influential pro-war voices, played a role in shaping the decision to enter the conflict under President Donald Trump.

“I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran,” Kent wrote, adding that the US had been drawn into the conflict despite a lack of direct threat.

Kent further claimed that a “misinformation campaign” by senior Israeli officials and sections of the American media contributed to building support for military action. According to him, this created an “echo chamber” that influenced the president’s perception of Iran as an immediate danger.

In his letter, Kent said that until mid-2025, Trump had acknowledged that prolonged wars in the Middle East had drained US resources and cost lives. However, he suggested that this position shifted under sustained pressure and messaging.

He urged the president to reconsider the course of action, warning that the conflict could push the country toward instability. “You can reverse course and chart a new path for our nation, or allow us to slip further toward decline and chaos,” he wrote.

Kent’s resignation marks the first high-level departure from the administration directly linked to the Iran war.

As head of the National Counterterrorism Center, Kent was responsible for analysing and monitoring terrorist threats. His tenure, however, had been controversial. He was confirmed to the role last year by a narrow Senate vote, facing strong opposition from Democrats over his past associations.

Critics had raised concerns about his links to far-right figures and his stance on conspiracy theories. During his earlier political campaign, Kent had professional associations with individuals connected to extremist groups, which became a point of contention during his confirmation hearings.

A fire broke out near Dubai International Airport on Monday after a drone-related incident struck a fuel tank in the surrounding area, prompting authorities to suspend flights temporarily while emergency teams responded.

Officials said crews from Dubai Civil Defence were quickly deployed to control the blaze after the incident was reported near the airport. Authorities confirmed that no injuries were recorded and that safety protocols were immediately activated in the surrounding area.

The Dubai Media Office said in a post on X that a drone incident near the airport had affected one of the fuel tanks. Emergency teams moved rapidly to bring the fire under control.

Later, officials confirmed that the situation had been contained. According to authorities, civil defence teams successfully controlled the fire resulting from the impact on the fuel facility, and there were no casualties.

Authorities said response teams acted quickly while precautionary safety measures were implemented to safeguard residents, workers and airport operations in the area.

Flights temporarily suspended as precaution

Following the incident, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority announced a temporary suspension of flights at Dubai International Airport to ensure passenger and staff safety.

Travellers were advised to contact their respective airlines for updated flight schedules as authorities assessed the situation and continued response operations.

Airport officials also confirmed that some flights were diverted to Al Maktoum International Airport during the temporary suspension.

Rising security concerns amid regional conflict

The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the region. Officials said Iran has fired more than 1,800 missiles and drones toward the United Arab Emirates since the start of the ongoing Middle East conflict.

Authorities said the UAE has become one of the most targeted countries during the escalation, though most projectiles have reportedly been intercepted by air defence systems.

The strikes have targeted both military and civilian infrastructure, including airports, ports and oil facilities across the Gulf after US-Israeli strikes reportedly hit Iranian leadership targets.

Meanwhile, the UAE’s defence ministry has reported six deaths linked to the conflict so far — four civilians and two military personnel. Officials said the soldiers died in a helicopter crash caused by a technical issue.