Israeli Foreign Ministry sparks controversy with Iran meme, which depicts Iran as a small, loud dog

Israel's Foreign Ministry has ignited controversy by posting a provocative meme on its Persian-language social media account.

The post, shared on Friday, depicts Iran as a small dog ineffectively barking at a larger canine representing Israel.

The timing of this jab couldn't be more sensitive. It comes in the wake of the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in late July, an event that has kept Western nations scrambling to prevent any retaliatory escalation from Iran. Further, Hezbollah recently attempted to mount its own response to the killing of Fuad Shukr, though Israel's military managed to thwart most of these threats.

Foreign Minister Israel Katz has been vocal about his concerns regarding Iran's efforts to escalate violence against Israel, particularly through increased terror activities in the West Bank. During a recent meeting with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Katz reiterated the gravity with which Israel views these developments.

Critics argue that such content could further inflame already strained relations between the two while some defend it as a form of modern digital diplomacy.

* Israel Hayom contributed to this article.