Israel claims it killed Iran's intelligence minister

Israel claims it killed Iran's intelligence minister Submitted by MEE staff on Wed, 03/18/2026 - 10:35 Defence Minister Israel Katz says army now authorised to kill any Iranian official without prior approval Iran's Minister of Intelligence Esmail Khatib (third from left) sits with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran on 17 August 2024 (AFP) Off Israel said it had killed Iran 's inteligence minister, Esmail Khatib, warning that Israeli attacks would escalate. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced the killing in a statement on Wednesday during a meeting with senior military officials. "Today we expect significant surprises in all arenas, which will escalate the war we are waging against Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon," Katz said at the meeting.