Israel has announced the killing of Esmail Khatib, marking another major development in the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.
According to Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, the Iranian intelligence chief was eliminated in a military operation. He hinted at further developments, stating that “significant surprises are expected throughout this day on all the fronts,” without providing additional details.
Khatib’s reported death comes shortly after Israel confirmed the killing of senior Iranian figure Ali Larijani and the leader of the paramilitary Basij force, signalling a targeted campaign against key figures within Iran’s security structure.
The United States Department of the Treasury had previously sanctioned Khatib in 2022, citing the Intelligence Ministry’s involvement in cyber operations targeting the United States and its allies.
At the time, the Treasury stated that Khatib “directs several networks of cyber threat actors involved in cyber espionage and ransomware attacks in support of Iran’s political goals.”
It also described Iran’s Intelligence Ministry as “one of the Iranian government’s main security services which is responsible for serious human rights abuses.”
“Under his leadership, the (Intelligence Ministry) has cracked down on a large number of human rights defenders, women-rights activists, journalists, filmmakers, and members of religious minority groups,” it said.
The agency further alleged that the ministry “has also aggressively persecuted individuals reporting on human rights abuses and violations in Iran, as well as their families, and subjected detainees to torture in secret detention centers during his tenure.”
The development adds to rising tensions in the region, as both sides continue to escalate military and strategic actions with broader geopolitical implications.
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