The conflict in the Middle East has entered a new phase in the wake of Israel’s assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and an Israeli strike in Beirut against the top military commander of Hezbollah.

According to Reuters, the attack is seen by the analysts and officials as one of Israel’s biggest blows yet to Iran and its allies. The timing and location were also chosen to embarrass Tehran, which was hosting Haniyeh and other regional dignitaries at the inauguration of its new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, they said.

Two Iranian sources told Reuters that Haniyeh’s killing sent shockwaves through Iran’s top leadership, who are now deeply concerned that their security forces may have been infiltrated by Israel.

There is also growing anxiety about their arch-foe’s ability to reach and assassinate high-ranking Iranian officials.

The killing confronts Pezeshkian with his first major crisis. Iran has adopted a dual policy of avoiding direct engagement in full-scale war while backing militant groups which have been firing at Israel from Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq and Syria.

Hossein Alai, a former commander of the Guards, told Iran’s Jamaran website: “It was also a message to Pezeshkian that we will not allow changes in Iran and its establishment of good relations with the world.”

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