Israel says it killed another top Iranian official, 3rd in two days

Israel said Wednesday it had killed yet another senior Iranian official – its third such strike in two days – while Iran retaliated with attacks on both Israel and its Persian Gulf neighbours. Some of Iran’s newest missiles reportedly bypassed air defences, and two people were killed near Tel Aviv, as the conflict continued to escalate.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz claimed that Iran’s intelligence minister, Esmail Khatib, was killed in an overnight strike, adding that more “significant surprises” were expected across multiple fronts, without providing details. Iran had not confirmed Khatib’s death at the time. A day earlier, Israel said it had killed senior Iranian figure Ali Larijani and the head of the Basij paramilitary force.

On March 17, Israel announced it killed Gholamreza Soleimani, the commander of Iran’s Basij paramilitary force, during a wave of airstrikes targeting high-level Iranian security officials. Soleimani was targeted in a separate Israeli airstrike as part of the broader military operations on March 16-17, alongside other officials such as Ali Larijani

In Lebanon, Israeli strikes continued, targeting what it described as Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters. Several residential buildings in Beirut were hit, leaving at least a dozen people dead.

In Iran, a projectile struck the Bushehr nuclear power complex overnight, though no casualties or damage were reported, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Its chief, Rafael Grossi, again urged restraint to avoid the risk of a nuclear incident.

Since the war began on February 28 with attacks by the United States and Israel, Iran has targeted energy infrastructure and military bases in Gulf Arab countries, aiming to raise oil prices and pressure Washington. Iranian state media also reported an attack on facilities linked to the South Pars gas field, though it was unclear who was responsible.

Iran has also tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz – a vital route for about 20% of global oil shipments – raising fears of a broader energy crisis. Brent crude prices remained above $100 per barrel, more than 40% higher than at the start of the conflict.

Esmail Khatib, appointed intelligence minister in 2021 by former president Ebrahim Raisi, had a background in Islamic jurisprudence and held several senior intelligence roles. He was sanctioned by the US in 2022 for alleged cyber activities targeting the United States and its allies, and reportedly joined the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps shortly after the 1979 revolution.

Separately, Iran executed a man accused of spying for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency. Identified as Kourosh Keyvani, he was alleged to have shared sensitive information and images with Israel.