Israel has claimed it killed Iran’s Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib in an overnight strike, marking the latest in a series of high-profile assassinations targeting Tehran’s top leadership during the ongoing war.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed the operation on Wednesday, saying, “Last night Iran's Intelligence Minister Khatib was also eliminated.” Iran has not officially confirmed Khatib’s death so far.
The strike comes amid a sharp escalation in Israel’s strategy of targeting senior Iranian officials. Yesterday, Israel also claimed responsibility for the killing of Iran’s powerful security chief Ali Larijani and Gholamreza Soleimani, the head of the Basij paramilitary force.
‘We will continue to hunt them’
Katz signalled that Israel intends to intensify its campaign against Iran’s leadership.
“The intensity of the strikes in Iran is moving up a notch. We are in the midst of a decisive stretch,” he said.
He added that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has authorised the military to target any senior Iranian official without requiring further approvals.
“Any senior Iranian official for whom the intelligence and operational circle has been closed, without the need for additional approval.”
“We will continue to thwart and hunt them all down.”
Katz also hinted at further escalation in the coming hours.
“Over the course of this day as well, significant surprises are expected in all arenas that will raise to a new level the war we are waging against Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon,” he said.
Who was Esmail Khatib
Esmail Khatib was a key figure in Iran’s intelligence and security apparatus. A Shiite cleric, he held multiple roles within Iran’s judiciary and intelligence system and previously served in the Revolutionary Guard during the Iran-Iraq war, where he was wounded.
The Israeli military, in a statement announcing his killing, said Khatib had “played a significant role during the recent protests throughout Iran, both with regards to the arrest and killing of protestors as well as shaping the regime's intelligence assessment”.
“In addition to his activities targeting the State of Israel, Khatib led the Ministry of Intelligence's terrorist activities against Israeli and American targets around the world,” it added.
Khatib had also been sanctioned by the United States in 2022. The US Treasury had accused him of overseeing cyber operations targeting the United States and its allies, including espionage and ransomware campaigns.
A growing list of targeted leaders
The killing of Khatib adds to a rapidly expanding list of senior Iranian figures eliminated since the war began following the February 28 US-Israel strikes.
Among the most significant losses was Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose death marked a major turning point in the conflict. He was succeeded by his son Mojtaba Khamenei, whose current status has itself become the subject of speculation amid reports that he may have been injured.
The deaths of Larijani and Soleimani further weakened Iran’s top command structure, targeting both political leadership and paramilitary networks.
Israeli officials have indicated that these strikes are designed not only to eliminate key figures but also to send a broader message.
A senior Israeli military intelligence official said such operations aim to demonstrate that Iranian leaders have “no safe place”.
War expands beyond the battlefield
The assassination campaign has drawn criticism from some countries. Turkey has condemned Israel’s actions, calling them unlawful.
“Israel's political assassinations, especially those targeting Iranian statesmen and politicians, are truly illegal activities outside the normal laws of war,” Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said.
As the conflict continues, Israel’s targeted strikes on Iran’s leadership suggest a strategy focused on decapitating the country’s command structure. However, analysts warn that Iran’s decentralised system of governance and military control may allow it to continue operating despite repeated losses at the top.
With senior leaders being eliminated in quick succession, the question of who ultimately controls Iran’s war effort is becoming increasingly complex even as the conflict intensifies.
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