Tensions in the Middle East have intensified sharply after Israel claimed that Iran’s Intelligence Minister, Esmail Khatib, was killed in overnight airstrikes. The announcement was made by Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Katz on Wednesday, though Iranian authorities have yet to officially confirm the death.
The reported strike comes just a day after the killings of two other high-ranking Iranian figures — Ali Larijani and Brigadier General Gholamreza Soleimani — marking a significant escalation in targeted attacks against Tehran’s leadership.
According to Katz, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has granted sweeping authority to the military to carry out further assassinations of senior Iranian officials without requiring additional approvals.
“Once an intelligence and operational window is established, the IDF is authorised to eliminate any senior Iranian official,” Katz said, hinting at more imminent strikes. He added that “significant surprises” could unfold across multiple fronts in the coming hours.
The latest development follows the killing of Ali Larijani, a veteran statesman and former Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. The 67-year-old was considered one of the most influential figures in Tehran and had close ties to the country’s supreme leadership, including the late Ali Khamenei and his son Mojtaba Khamenei.
Larijani’s death marked one of the most significant losses for Iran since the conflict began nearly three weeks ago.
In a separate strike, Iranian state media confirmed the death of Brigadier General Gholamreza Soleimani, who headed the Basij — a powerful internal security and paramilitary force. Soleimani had led the organisation for six years and was seen as a central figure in maintaining internal control and coordinating Iran’s domestic security strategy.
Reacting to the killings, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi asserted that the country’s political system remains resilient.
“Iran’s political infrastructure is a very solid structure and will not suffer a fatal blow,” he said, downplaying the impact of losing multiple senior leaders in quick succession.
The targeted killings underscore a dramatic intensification in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, raising fears of a broader regional confrontation. With Israel signalling a more aggressive doctrine of preemptive strikes against top Iranian leadership, and Iran vowing institutional stability, the situation remains highly volatile.
As uncertainty looms over the fate of Esmail Khatib and the potential for further escalations, the coming days are likely to be critical in shaping the trajectory of this deepening conflict.
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