politics
March 18, 2026
IDF says Iranian intelligence minister Esmaeil Khatib killed in overnight strikes
Israel Defense Forces killed top Iranian intelligence official Esmaeil Khatib and Hamas commander Yahya Abu Labda in separate airstrikes in the Middle East overnight.
TL;DR
- The IDF announced the killing of Iranian intelligence minister Esmaeil Khatib in an airstrike in Tehran.
- Hamas commander Yahya Abu Labda was reportedly killed in a separate IDF airstrike in Gaza.
- Khatib was described by the IDF as playing a significant role in suppressing protests and leading terrorist activities.
- Abu Labda was a key figure in Hamas's precision missile project and responsible for procurement and transport of military equipment.
- The strikes occurred a day after Israel reportedly killed Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s National Security Council.
- Khatib had been Iran’s intelligence minister since August 2021 and was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2022.
- Under Khatib, Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security cracked down on activists, journalists, and religious minorities.
Continue reading the original article