Srinagar, Mar 18 — Israeli strikes over the past 24 hours have killed multiple senior Iranian security figures, including top commanders, as Iran launched retaliatory missile attacks on Israeli territory, marking a sharp escalation in hostilities across the region.
Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz claimed that Iran’s Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib and other senior officials were killed in an overnight strike. Iran has not officially confirmed Khatib’s death.
Among those reported killed in recent strikes are senior figures including Ali Larijani and Basij force commander Gholamreza Soleimani. Tehran has typically confirmed such killings after a delay of several days in previous cases.
Iran responded with missile attacks on central Israel, including the Ramat Gan area near Tel Aviv, where at least two people were killed overnight. Israeli authorities said some missiles were intercepted, while others struck urban areas.
Israeli operations have intensified across Iran and Lebanon, with reports of dozens killed and wounded. In one strike, a densely populated residential area in Dorud city in Iran’s Lorestan province was hit, killing seven people and injuring 56, according to reports.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the country’s leadership structure remained intact despite the killings. “The political system remains strong and the assassination of its leaders will not set the country back,” he said.
Khatib, if confirmed dead, would mark a significant loss for Iran’s intelligence apparatus. A cleric trained in Qom, he held the title of Hujjat al-Islam and was considered a senior figure with decades of experience in intelligence operations.
Meanwhile, regional tensions widened as attacks were reported targeting the US embassy in Baghdad, while Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates reported intercepting drones and missiles.
Israeli Defence Minister Katz said the military had been given operational freedom to target senior Iranian officials without requiring higher-level approval, according to a briefing.