Israel killed Iran’s Minister of Intelligence, Esmaeil Khatib, in a precision strike overnight, a senior Israeli official confirmed to Fox News on March 18, 2026. The operation was supported by a joint U.S.-Israeli intelligence effort and targeted Khatib for his role in plots against American officials.
Khatib Targeted for Plotting Against U.S. Officials
The Israeli official said Khatib was central to networks that targeted current and former U.S. figures, including former President Donald Trump. Khatib had previously survived an earlier large-scale strike on Iran’s Defense Council compound in Tehran during the initial phase of Operation Epic Fury, where more than 40 Iranian leaders were killed in about 40 seconds. He was reportedly the only senior figure to survive that attack but was killed in this subsequent strike.
Role in Iran’s Internal Crackdowns and Sanctions
The Israel Defense Forces stated that Khatib played a key role in orchestrating crackdowns on protesters during recent unrest in Iran, including arrests and killings linked to the nationwide demonstrations following the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022. The U.S. Treasury Department had sanctioned him in 2022 for leading Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS), which was accused of cyberattacks against U.S. and allied targets and disruptive operations against critical infrastructure.
Khatib’s Background and Wider U.S. Efforts
Esmaeil Khatib joined the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) at the start of the Iran-Iraq War in 1980 and later became part of MOIS by 1986. He studied under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic. Last week, the U.S. State Department’s Rewards for Justice program offered up to $10 million for information on senior Iranian security figures linked to the IRGC, including Khatib.
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