Israel says it has taken out another top Iranian regime heavyweight.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday that Iran’s intelligence minister, Esmaeil Khatib, was “eliminated” in an overnight strike, the latest in a string of high-level hits that has left Tehran’s leadership bloodied and scrambling.
His reported death follows the killings of Ali Larijani, Iran’s top security chief, and Gen. Gholam Reza Soleimani, the head of the regime’s Basij paramilitary force, both of whom were reported dead Tuesday.
Khatib was no bureaucrat in a back room.
Israel says Iran’s intelligence ministry is a central hub for surveillance, espionage, and covert operations, while the U.S. had already sanctioned Khatib-era Iranian security officials over the regime’s brutal crackdown on protesters, including during the Mahsa Amini unrest. Khatib himself had also been identified in reporting as a sanctioned figure tied to repression and cyber operations.
A senior Israeli official told Fox News that Khatib oversaw Iran’s global terror apparatus and was tied to plots targeting current and former U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump.
🔴ELIMINATED: Esmaeil Khatib, the Iranian terrorist regime Minister of Intelligence, in a targeted strike in Tehran.
Khatib played a significant role during the recent protests throughout Iran, including the arrest & killing of protestors and led terrorist activities against… pic.twitter.com/654lpYCZ1c
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 18, 2026
And Israel is signaling there is more to come.
Katz said “significant surprises are expected throughout this day on all the fronts,” and added that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had authorized the military to target senior Iranian officials without needing fresh approval each time.
Iran is vowing revenge. After the killings of Larijani and Soleimani, Iran launched fresh retaliatory attacks, and army chief Amir Hatami warned of a “decisive and regrettable” response, saying the regime’s “martyrs will be avenged.”
Watch the clip below:
Iran’s Minister of Intelligence Esmaeil Khatib was killed overnight in a precision strike, a senior Israeli official told Fox News. pic.twitter.com/INjvcYDvYo
— Trey Yingst (@TreyYingst) March 18, 2026
More over at The New York Post:
Israel says it assassinated Iranian intelligence minister Esmaeil Khatib in overnight strike https://t.co/4BFnAI912q pic.twitter.com/3EGIT5lJWY
— New York Post (@nypost) March 18, 2026
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