Israel confirmed that it had killed Iran’s intelligence minister Esmail Khatib in a targeted strike in Tehran. Defence Minister Israel Katz made the announcement during a security review meeting. He said Israeli forces carried out the operation overnight. According to reports, the strike took place in the Iranian capital.

More Strikes Likely, Says Israel

Katz also signalled that further operations could follow soon. He warned that “significant surprises are expected throughout this day on all the fronts against Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon”. He added that the Israeli government has expanded military authority. “authorised the IDF to [eliminate] any senior Iranian figure… without the need for additional approval”.

Killing Follows Death of Key Iranian Leader

This development came just a day after Israel claimed it had killed Ali Larijani, Iran’s top security official. Larijani was widely seen as one of the most powerful figures in Iran after the late Supreme Leader.

Series of High-Profile Killings

Khatib’s reported death adds to a growing list of senior Iranian leaders killed since the war began on February 28. These include Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, IRGC chief Mohammad Pakpour, Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani, and defence minister Aziz Nasirzadeh.cAt the same time, tensions remain high over Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. Both the United States and Israel have vowed to target him as well.

US Sanctions and Allegations

The United States had earlier imposed sanctions on Khatib in 2022. Officials accused his ministry of carrying out “cyber-enabled activities against the United States and its allies”.

US authorities also charged Khatib and his ministry with human rights violations. The US Treasury stated that Khatib “directs several networks of cyber threat actors involved in cyber espionage and ransomware attacks in support of Iran’s political goals”.

It further described Iran’s Intelligence Ministry as “one of the Iranian government’s main security services which is responsible for serious human rights abuses.”

“Under his leadership, the (Intelligence Ministry) has cracked down on a large number of human rights defenders, women-rights activists, journalists, filmmakers, and members of religious minority groups,” the Treasury further said.