Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib was reportedly killed by the Israeli military, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Wednesday (March 18) via ABC News.

Katz said Khatib was responsible for the Iranian "regime's internal murder and repression system in Iran and of promoting external threats" while announcing his death and said "significant surprises are expected in all arenas," teasing the escalation of the war against Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon without providing additional details. At least six people were killed and 24 others injured during an Israeli strike on Beirut, according to the Lebanese health ministry.

Israel claimed to have struck Hezbollah-related infrastructure in Lebanon's capital city and southern region. Beirut was reportedly struck twice Wednesday morning, with at least one building leveled, as the Israel Defense Forces said it was retaliating to "dozens" of rockets fired by Hezbollah.

Ari Larijani, head of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, was killed in an overnight strike Tuesday (March 17), days after warning President Donald Trump to "watch out for yourself -- lest you be eliminated," Israel's defense minister Israel Katz announced via the New York Post. The Israel Defense Forces also announced that Gen. Gholam Reza Soleimani, head of the Revolutionary Guard's all-volunteer Basij force, was killed in a "targeted strike" on Tehran in a post shared on X.

“Larijani and the Basij commander were eliminated last night,” Defense Minister Israel Katz said, “and have joined [Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei, the head of the annihilation program, along with all those eliminated from the axis of evil in the depths of hell.”

Larijani, 67, was appointed to advise late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on strategy in nuclear talks with the Trump administration prior to Khamenei's killing at the start of 'Operation Epic Fury' on February 28, on top of his role on Iran's top security body. The official joined Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Tehran on Friday (March 13) for the annual pro-Palestinian Quds Day holiday when he gave the public warning to Trump.

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