Israel Says Iran Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib Killed in Overnight Strikes
Israel said on Wednesday, March 18, that Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib was killed in an overnight strike, marking another major escalation in its widening conflict with Iran and adding to a growing list of senior Iranian figures targeted in recent days. Reuters reported that Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced Khatib had been “eliminated,” though there was no immediate official confirmation from Iran.
The claim comes as Israel sharply expands its campaign against Iran’s political, military and intelligence leadership. According to Reuters, Katz also said he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had authorised the military to continue targeting senior Iranian officials without needing additional approval for each strike, signalling a more aggressive phase of the war.
If confirmed, Khatib’s death would be one of the most significant blows yet to Iran’s intelligence apparatus. His reported killing follows Israeli claims that other top Iranian figures, including senior security official Ali Larijani and Basij commander Gholam Reza Soleimani, were also killed in recent strikes. Associated Press reported that Israel has publicly linked Khatib’s reported death to that broader campaign against the Iranian leadership.
The reported strike landed amid a rapidly worsening regional war. News reports published on March 18 said Iran responded with fresh missile and drone attacks on Israel and Gulf countries, while fighting and cross-border strikes also intensified in Lebanon and elsewhere in the region.
At this stage, the key point is that the report remains an Israeli claim, not a jointly verified fact. Reuters specifically said there had been no official Iranian confirmation of Esmail Khatib’s death at the time of publication.
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