TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel has said that it had killed Iran’s intelligence minister, Esmail Khatib, in a strike carried out in Tehran the previous night, marking the latest reported targeting of senior figures within Iran’s leadership.
The announcement was made on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, by Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, who said the operation formed part of an intensified campaign against Iranian officials.
“I have authorised the (Israel Defense Forces) to neutralise any senior Iranian official once an operational and intelligence opportunity arises – without the need for additional approval,” Katz said during a situation assessment.
Iran had not confirmed the reported killing as of Wednesday.
Escalation Signals From Israeli Leadership
Katz said further developments were expected as the conflict continues.
“Significant surprises are expected” across multiple fronts of the war, he said, adding that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had simplified procedures for approving operations against members of Iran’s leadership.
In a separate statement, the Israeli military said Khatib had been killed in what it described as a targeted strike in Tehran.
Katz said Khatib had been “responsible for the regime’s internal repression and assassination apparatus, as well as for advancing external threats.”
Iranian Response on Leadership Structure
Iranian officials responded by emphasising the resilience of the country’s governing system following earlier reported killings of senior figures.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the death of Ali Larijani, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, would not alter the structure of leadership.
“I do not know why the Americans and the Israelis still have not understood this point: The Islamic Republic of Iran has a strong political structure with established political, economic and social institutions,” Araghchi told Al Jazeera.
“The presence or absence of a single individual does not affect this structure,” he added.
Iranian authorities had earlier confirmed the deaths of Larijani and former Basij militia chief General Gholam Reza Soleiman after Israel announced their killings.
Russia Condemns Targeted Killings
Russia criticised the reported killings of Iranian officials, with the Kremlin expressing opposition to such actions.
“We certainly condemn actions aimed at causing harm to the health, or even more so, the murder and liquidation of representatives of the leadership of sovereign Iran, sovereign and independent Iran, as well as other countries. We condemn such actions,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a briefing in Moscow.
The reported strike on Khatib comes amid ongoing hostilities between Israel and Iran, with both sides signalling the potential for further escalation.
