Israel Kills Iranian Intelligence Minister Khatib in Third Assassination in Two Days

Israel confirmed the killing of Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib in an overnight airstrike on Tehran, marking the third high-ranking Iranian official assassinated in 48 hours following the deaths of security chief Ali Larijani and Basij paramilitary commander Gholamreza Soleimani. Khatib ran the ministry responsible for domestic surveillance, protest suppression, and hunting dissidents abroad, making him central to both internal repression and foreign operations. The rapid decapitation campaign has left Iran's security establishment severely degraded.