Mohammed Said Izadi was one of the few people who knew in advance about Hamas’s plan to launch a surprise attack on Israel, The New York Times has reported.

By Alexander Cornwell and James Oliphant JERUSALEM/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Israel said on Saturday it had killed a veteran Iranian commander as the countries traded attacks, a day after Tehran said it would not negotiate over its nuclear programme while under threat and Europe tried to keep peace talks alive.

As the US weighs joining Israel’s assault on Iran, questions are mounting over whether such an intervention could trigger regime change in Tehran – an outcome that risks splintering the country and sending shockwaves across the region.