An Israeli official confirmed Wednesday morning that the Israeli Air Force carried out an attempted targeted assassination against Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib on Tuesday night.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed Khatib's death, saying that Khatib had been "in charge of the Iranian regime's mechanisms for murder and internal repression, and of advancing external threats."
"Israel's policy is clear and unambiguous: No one in Iran is immune, and they are all targets."
The IDF responded: "Overnight (Wednesday), the Israeli Air Force, acting on IDF intelligence, eliminated the Iranian terrorist regime Minister of Intelligence, Esmaeil Khatib, in a targeted strike in Tehran."
"Khatib had been appointed Minister of Intelligence by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in 2021. In his role, Khatib oversaw the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence, the Iranian terrorist regime’s primary intelligence organization, which also played a key role in supporting the regime’s repression and terrorist activities.
"The Iranian Ministry of Intelligence possesses advanced intelligence capabilities, overseeing surveillance, espionage, and the execution of covert operations worldwide, particularly against the State of Israel and Iranian citizens.
"As the Intelligence Minister, Khatib played a significant role during the recent protests throughout Iran, both with regards to the arrest and killing of protestors as well as shaping the regime’s intelligence assessment. Similarly, he operated against Iranian citizens during the Mahsa Amini protests (2022-2023)."
The IDF noted, "In addition to his activities targeting the State of Israel, Khatib led the Ministry of Intelligence’s terrorist activities against Israeli and American targets around the world, as well as activities directed against targets within Israel during Operation Roaring Lion."
"Khatib previously held several key roles within the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), primarily holding intelligence positions, where he served as a significant source of knowledge.
"His elimination joins dozens of other eliminations of senior commanders of the Iranian terrorist regime throughout the operation, including senior figures in the Ministry of Intelligence, and significantly degrades the regime’s command and control structures.
"The IDF will continue to operate against Iranian terror regime commanders."
