Iranian support for Hamas

Iran's supreme leader vowed retaliation on Saturday for attacks by Israel, as an Israeli military official confirmed naval commandos seized a suspected Hezbollah operative in a Lebanon raid.

Less than a week after the killing of a top Hamas leader in Tehran, Iran, and a top Hezbollah commander in Beirut, the entire Middle East is on edge. Fears of a broader regional war have been mounting amid vows of revenge from Iranian leaders that have left Israel in a state of deep uncertainty.

Why is an Iranian attack expected?

A chain reaction has been sparked by the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, with authorities in several countries on alert for a possible strike on Israeli targets in retaliation.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ordered a direct strike against Israel following the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. The New York Times, citing three Iranian officials including members of the Revolutionary Guard, reported that Khamenei issued the command during an emergency meeting of Iran's Supreme National Security Council on Wednesday morning.

Iran held funeral processions on Thursday for Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh after he was killed in a strike in Tehran blamed on Israel.

The Islamic republic's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will lead the prayers for Haniyeh ahead of his burial in Doha, having earlier threatened a "harsh punishment" for his killing.

Fears of a wider regional escalation have been raised following the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, the capital of Iran, where he had traveled for the inauguration of the country’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian.

Hamas said Wednesday its political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in an Israeli strike in Iran, where he had been attending the inauguration of the country's new president.