“We are sure that his blood will bring out victory, dignity and liberation,” senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya, seen as a possible successor to Haniyeh, said from the Doha mosque where Haniyeh’s coffin was displayed beside that of his bodyguard, who was also killed in the Tehran attack.

Israeli defence officials, meanwhile, said they were co-ordinating with the US and UK ahead of an expected Iranian retaliatory strike, setting the stage for a repeat of a similar attack by Tehran in April that was repelled by the allies.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said in a statement that he had spoken with his US and British counterparts, Lloyd Austin and John Healey, to provide “a situational assessment in light of recent security developments”.

Tensions spike again

Fear has risen of a spillover from the nearly 10-month Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

A similar spike in tensions about four months ago saw Iran and Israel trade direct fire for the first time. Almost 300 Iranian drones and missiles were fired, but most were destroyed by air defences from Israel, the US and several allies. Israel’s drone strike in response was contained and appeared symbolic to avoid escalation.

This time, Iran’s response may be more fierce, given the embarrassment of having a foreign dignitary and top ally assassinated in the heart of its capital. Among its options are another direct assault on Israel, stepped-up attacks by its regional proxies, or hitting Israeli targets elsewhere in the world.

Defence Secretary Austin, who earlier this week reiterated that the US “certainly will help defend Israel” if attacked, spoke with Gallant and is weighing moves to reinforce America’s presence in the region, the Pentagon said.

Israel has stopped short of confirming it was behind killing Haniyeh, but it hasn’t pushed back against the claim either. His death came hours after Israel killed a top Hezbollah commander in Beirut, Fuad Shukr.

Last week, President Joe Biden assured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of “new defensive US military deployments,” the White House said in a statement. Biden later told reporters he had also pressed the Israeli leader in a “very direct” call to agree to a ceasefire with Hamas.

Biden is trying to use his last months in office to end the war, which has caused huge political divisions in the US. He’s struggled to influence Netanyahu’s war strategy, seeking to pressure him publicly and privately but declining to use the billions of dollars of US military aid as leverage.

While the destruction and death toll among Palestinians in Gaza has drawn international criticism of Israel, Netanyahu has focused on the existential threat to his country and the region from Iran and its proxies in the so-called Axis of Resistance, which includes Hamas, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen. All are designated terrorist organisations by the US.

AP, Bloomberg