Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday claimed that Iranian intelligence minister Esmaeil Khatib was killed in an overnight airstrike in Tehran.
Iran is yet to confirm the death of Khatib.
Who was Esmaeil Khatib?
Esmaeil Khatib was serving as Iran's intelligence minister since 2021. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Khatib "played a significant role during the recent protests throughout Iran, both with regards to the arrests and killing of protesters, as well as shaping the regime’s intelligence assessment". He also quelled the 2022-23 protests over Mahsa Amini killing, as per IDF.
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The Israeli military claimed that Iran's intelligence ministry is the country's primary intelligence organisation. IDF also claimed that Khatib led the intelligence ministry's "terror activities" targeting Israeli and US assets across the globe.
Pointing out that the strikes have intensified, Katz said "significant surprises" are awaited in the ongoing conflict with Iran and Hezbollah.
The defence minister added that IDF has been authorised to eleminate any senior Iranian figure without prior approval.
The intelligence minister's death follows Israel killing top Iranian security official Ali Larijani and the head of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard's all-volunteer Basij force, Gholamreza Soleimani.