TEHRAN: Tensions in the Middle East escalated sharply following reports that Iran’s Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib was killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting Tehran overnight.

According to Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, the strike was carried out under directives that allow the military to target senior Iranian officials without requiring additional authorization. He stated that the operation reflects a broader escalation strategy approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

However, Iranian authorities have not officially confirmed the death of Khatib.

The reported killing comes amid a series of high-profile losses for Iran’s leadership. Just a day earlier, Iran’s Supreme National Security figure Ali Larijani was also reported killed in Israeli strikes. Israeli sources further claimed that several top military officials, including Gholam Reza Soleimani, commander of the Basij Force under the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), were among those targeted.

In response, Iran stated it had launched attacks on more than 100 Israeli-linked targets. The developments mark a significant intensification in the ongoing conflict between the two nations.

Meanwhile, Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei dismissed calls for de-escalation, indicating that diplomatic efforts would not be considered at this stage. He stated that peace would not be possible unless certain conditions, including acknowledgment of defeat and compensation, were met.

The situation continues to evolve, with global attention focused on the potential for further escalation in the region.