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Israel Kills Iran’s Intelligence Minister in Latest Assassination Strike; Tehran Launches Retaliatory Barrage
Senior International Correspondent
Published: March 19, 2026, 9:00 PM | Updated: 10:15 PM
Dubai/Tehran – The shadow war between Israel and Iran has exploded into a direct and bloody confrontation, with Israel confirming it has killed Iran’s Intelligence Minister, Esmaeil Khatib, in an overnight airstrike on Tehran . The assassination, confirmed by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, marks the third high-profile Iranian official to be killed in as many days and has triggered a fierce wave of Iranian missile attacks across the region .
The Israeli military announced on Wednesday that it had “eliminated” Khatib, accusing his ministry of overseeing “surveillance, espionage, and the execution of covert operations worldwide,” particularly against Israel . Iranian President Pezeshkian confirmed the death on social media, calling it a “cowardly assassination” and leaving the nation “in deep mourning” .
Khatib’s death comes just one day after Israel killed Iran’s top security chief, Ali Larijani, and the commander of the Basij paramilitary force, Gholamreza Soleimani, in separate strikes . These targeted killings are part of a sustained campaign by Israel and the United States that began on the first day of the war with the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei .
Who Was Esmaeil Khatib?
A hardline figure within the Iranian establishment, Khatib’s career was deeply intertwined with the Islamic Republic’s security apparatus .
- Background: He was appointed intelligence minister in 2021 by the late president Ebrahim Raisi and was a veteran of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which he reportedly joined in 1980 .
- Sanctions: In 2022, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned Khatib and his ministry for conducting “cyber espionage and ransomware attacks in support of Iran’s political goals” .
- Role in Crackdowns: The Israeli military stated that Khatib played a “significant role” in the brutal crackdown on anti-government protests in Iran, including the women-led uprising in 2022 that followed the death of Mahsa Amini .
Iran Vows Revenge as Region Erupts
In the wake of the assassinations, Iran has made good on its threats of retaliation. The country launched large-scale missile and drone barrages targeting Israel and its Gulf neighbors early Wednesday .
- Attacks on Israel: Iran fired advanced, multi-warhead missiles at central Israel. Two people were killed in the city of Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, bringing the death toll in Israel from the war to at least 14 .
- Regional Fallout: Explosions and air raid sirens were reported across the Middle East, including in Dubai, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia as air defenses intercepted incoming fire . In a significant escalation, an Iranian drone was seen directly hitting the U.S. embassy compound in Baghdad . Australia also confirmed that an Iranian projectile struck near its military headquarters at Al Minhad Air Base in the UAE, though no personnel were injured .
“Open Season” on Iranian Leadership
The precision and frequency of the strikes suggest a deep penetration of Iranian intelligence by Israel. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz made it clear that the campaign is far from over. He announced that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have given the military standing authorization to eliminate any senior Iranian official “for whom the intelligence and operational circle has been closed, without the need for additional approval” .
In a televised statement, PM Netanyahu displayed a small card, saying, “Today I erased two names on the punch card, and you see how many more to go on this batch” .
International Ramifications and a Widening War
The conflict is rapidly drawing in global powers and disrupting international stability. The U.S. military dropped 5,000-pound “bunker-buster” bombs on Iranian missile sites near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which remains effectively blocked, sending global oil prices soaring above $100 a barrel .
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed disappointment that NATO and key allies like Australia, Japan, and South Korea have rejected his calls to help secure the strait . EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated bluntly, “This is not Europe’s war,” adding that member states do not wish to be “dragged into this” .
On the ground, the human cost is mounting. According to Iranian officials, more than 1,300 people have been killed in U.S. and Israeli strikes since the war began . In Lebanon, which has also been heavily bombarded, over 886 people have been killed . Large funeral processions were held in Tehran on Wednesday for Larijani, Soleimani, and other victims .
As both sides show no signs of de-escalation, the Middle East stands on the brink of a wider and even more destructive war.