IDF says Iranian intelligence minister Esmaeil Khatib killed in overnight strikes

Published March 18, 2026 5:50am ET



Israel Defense Forces killed top Iranian intelligence official Esmaeil Khatib and Hamas commander Yahya Abu Labda in separate airstrikes in the Middle East overnight. 

The IDF confirmed Khatib, Iran’s intelligence minister, was killed in the strike in Tehran on Wednesday morning.

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