Israel Confirms Killing of Iranian Intelligence Minister
Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz announced on Wednesday that Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib was killed in a strike overnight. The announcement follows the reported deaths of other high-ranking Iranian officials in recent days amid escalating tensions.
Details of the Killing
According to Defence Minister Katz, the strike that resulted in Khatib’s death occurred on Tuesday evening [Reuters]. As of Wednesday, Iran has not confirmed Khatib’s death.
Recent High-Profile Killings
Khatib’s killing is the latest in a series of targeted attacks on Iranian officials. Israel previously announced the deaths of Ali Larijani, Iran’s top security chief, and Gholamreza Soleimani, the head of the paramilitary Basij militia [AP News]. Iran has confirmed Larijani’s death and warned of retaliation.
Escalating Conflict
A number of Iranian political and military leaders have been killed since the start of the conflict between the US and Israel against Iran in late February. This includes Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the war.
Further Israeli Actions
Israel’s Defence Minister Katz stated that “significant surprises are expected throughout this day on all fronts” [South China Morning Post]. The specific nature of these anticipated actions remains undisclosed. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) announced plans to attack crossings on the Litani River in southern Lebanon due to “Hezbollah’s activities and the transfer of terrorist elements” [BBC News]. Residents have been advised to evacuate south of the Zahrani River.
Authorization for Future Strikes
Katz as well revealed that he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have authorized the military to target other senior Iranian officials without requiring additional approval [South China Morning Post].
Esmail Khatib had been sanctioned by the US Treasury in 2022 over alleged cyber-enabled activities against the United States and its allies [South China Morning Post].