Israel Says Iran Intelligence Chief Killed as Regional Tensions Surge.
Jerusalem:
Israel has claimed that Esmail Khatib, Iran’s intelligence minister, was killed in an overnight strike, signaling a sharp escalation in the shadow conflict between Israel and Iran.
In an official statement, the Israel Defense Forces said Khatib, who led Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence, played a key role in what it described as the regime’s “repression and terrorist activities.” The Israeli military also accused him of being directly involved in the arrest and killing of protesters during recent crackdowns on anti-government demonstrations across Iran.
“His elimination joins dozens of other eliminations of senior commanders of the Iranian terrorist regime,” the IDF said, adding that the operation would “significantly degrade the regime’s command and control structures.”
The reported killing comes just a day after the death of Ali Larijani, described as one of Iran’s top security officials. If confirmed, the back-to-back losses of two senior figures would represent a major blow to Iran’s political and intelligence leadership.
However, Iranian authorities have not yet commented on the claims regarding Khatib, and there has been no independent verification of Israel’s account.
Meanwhile, the situation across the region continues to intensify. Israel has launched a fresh series of airstrikes on Beirut, as part of its ongoing offensive against Hezbollah. The strikes are aimed at the group’s fighters, leadership, and infrastructure, which Israel says are backed by Iran.
The widening scope of Israeli military operations—from targeting senior Iranian figures to sustained strikes in Lebanon—has heightened fears of a broader regional conflict. Analysts warn that direct attacks on high-ranking Iranian officials could trigger a strong response from Tehran, potentially escalating tensions across the Middle East.
With no official response yet from Iran and continued military activity on multiple fronts, the situation remains highly volatile, with the risk of further escalation in the coming days.
