Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz announced that Israeli forces have killed Iran’s Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib, marking another major escalation in the ongoing conflict and signaling further high-level targeting of Iran’s leadership.
Katz said “significant surprises” are expected across multiple fronts, without providing details, as Israel continues a campaign aimed at dismantling Iran’s security and political structure. The reported killing follows earlier strikes that eliminated senior Iranian figures, including Ali Larijani and Gholamreza Soleimani.
Khatib had previously been sanctioned by the United States in 2022 over allegations that Iran’s Intelligence Ministry engaged in cyber espionage and ransomware attacks targeting the US and its allies. US authorities also accused the ministry of widespread human rights abuses, including the persecution of activists, journalists, and minority groups.
The latest developments come as Iran retaliates with intensified regional attacks. Missiles launched toward central Israel killed at least two people near Tel Aviv, with Iranian forces reportedly deploying advanced multi-warhead systems designed to evade air defenses.
The conflict has rapidly expanded beyond Israel and Iran, with strikes reported across the Gulf region. Iran targeted strategic locations in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, raising fears of a broader regional war.
Explosions were also reported near the US Embassy in Baghdad for a second consecutive day, as pro-Iran militias continue targeting American interests in Iraq.
Meanwhile, Israel intensified its operations in Beirut, launching airstrikes it says are aimed at Iran-backed Hezbollah positions. Lebanese authorities reported multiple casualties and widespread displacement as attacks hit residential areas.
The war has also raised global economic concerns, particularly around energy supply. Iran has tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil passes, pushing crude prices above $100 per barrel and heightening fears of a global energy crisis.
International agencies have also warned of nuclear safety risks after a projectile struck near Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, though no damage or injuries were reported. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, has called for maximum restraint to prevent a nuclear incident.
Inside Iran, authorities executed a man identified as Kourosh Keyvani on charges of spying for Israel, amid warnings from rights groups of a potential rise in executions following recent unrest.
Since the war began on February 28, more than 1,300 people have reportedly been killed in Iran, with casualties also mounting in Israel, Lebanon, and among US forces. The scale and سرعة of the escalation have intensified concerns that the conflict could spiral into a prolonged and far-reaching regional crisis.
