Visualizza wikitesto di Iran’s intelligence minister ‘eliminated’ in overnight strike, Israel claims

In a dramatic and potentially historic escalation of tensions in the Middle East, Israel has claimed that it has "eliminated" Iran’s intelligence minister, Esmail Khatib, in a targeted overnight strike on Tehran. The announcement, made by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, has sent shockwaves across global diplomatic and security circles,  [http://ukbreakingnews24x7.com breaking news] raising urgent questions about the trajectory of the ongoing Iran–Israel conflict. This reported assassination—if confirmed—marks one of the most significant blows to Iran’s leadership structure in recent history.<br><br>It comes amid a series of high-profile killings of senior Iranian officials, signaling a widening campaign aimed at dismantling the country’s intelligence and security apparatus.<br> Breaking news: What happened overnight?          According to multiple reports, Israel carried out a precision airstrike in Tehran overnight, targeting Iran’s intelligence leadership. Israeli officials claim that Esmail Khatib, the country’s Minister of Intelligence since 2021, was killed in the operation.<br> Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz stated plainly:<br>  "Last night Iran’s Intelligence Minister Khatib was also eliminated."<br>  However, Iran has not yet officially confirmed Khatib’s death, leaving the claim unverified at the time of writing.<br> The ambiguity surrounding confirmation adds to the tension, as both nations engage in a fast-moving information war alongside military escalation.<br>  Who was Esmail Khatib?        Esmail Khatib was a central figure in Iran’s political and security landscape.<br><br>Appointed as intelligence minister in August 2021, he oversaw one of the most powerful institutions in the Islamic Republic.<br> Key facts about Khatib:  	 Senior cleric with deep ties to Iran’s ruling elite<br>  	 Close ally of the country’s supreme leadership<br>  	 Head of the Ministry of Intelligence, responsible for:<br>  	 Surveillance and internal security<br>  	 Counterintelligence operations<br>  	 Overseas espionage missions<br>    	 Accused by Western governments of orchestrating cyber operations and repression<br>   Khatib’s ministry has long been described as the backbone of Iran’s internal control and external intelligence operations, making him a high-value target in any conflict involving the country.<br>  A pattern of targeted killings The reported assassination of Khatib is not an isolated incident.<br><br>Instead, it appears to be part of a rapid and coordinated campaign targeting Iran’s top leadership.<br> Within a span of just 24 hours, Israel has claimed responsibility for eliminating multiple high-ranking figures, including:<br>  	 Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council<br>  	 Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of the Basij militia<br>   These killings follow an even larger pattern of decapitation strikes that began weeks earlier, including the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader during the opening phase of the war.<br> Why this matters This strategy—often referred to as "decapitation strikes"—aims to:<br>  	 Disrupt command and control structures<br>  	 Create internal instability<br>  	 Limit the enemy’s ability to coordinate retaliation<br>   If successful, it could significantly weaken Iran’s operational capabilities, at least in the short term.