TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib was killed in an overnight Israeli airstrike in Tehran, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed Wednesday, marking the third high-profile assassination of a senior regime official in as many days amid the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran.

The strike, claimed by Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz as the “elimination” of Khatib — whom he described as overseeing “the regime’s internal murder and repression system” and external threats — came hours after U.S. forces conducted precision strikes on hardened Iranian missile sites along the coastline near the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Central Command announced the operation used multiple 5,000-pound deep-penetrator munitions to target facilities housing anti-ship cruise missiles that posed risks to international shipping in the strategic waterway.

Khatib’s death follows the killings Tuesday of top national security official Ali Larijani and former Basij paramilitary chief Gen. Gholamreza Soleimani in separate Israeli airstrikes. Pezeshkian, in a post on X, condemned the killings as “cowardly assassinations” and vowed resilience, while Iranian state television confirmed Khatib’s death and labeled it part of Israel’s campaign to destabilize Iran’s leadership.

The assassinations represent a sharp escalation in Israel’s targeting of Iran’s political and security elite since the conflict began Feb. 28, 2026, with joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes aimed at degrading Iran’s nuclear program, ballistic missile capabilities and regime stability. Israeli officials have stated the military now has permission to strike Iranian leaders “at will,” signaling an intensified effort to dismantle command structures.

In response to the latest killings, Iran launched a missile barrage overnight that struck areas near Tel Aviv, killing two civilians in Ramat Gan and injuring others, according to Israeli emergency services. Air raid sirens sounded across central Israel as debris fell from intercepted projectiles. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed the attack as retaliation for the assassinations, vowing further operations.

The U.S. strikes near the Strait of Hormuz focused on neutralizing threats to maritime traffic without directly hitting oil infrastructure on Kharg Island or elsewhere, though President Donald Trump warned Wednesday that energy facilities could become targets if Iran continues interfering with shipping. CENTCOM described the operation as successful in degrading Iran’s anti-ship missile posture, part of broader efforts to reopen the strait amid disrupted global oil flows.

Oil prices remained elevated near $112 per barrel on Brent crude futures Wednesday, reflecting ongoing market anxiety over potential closure of the chokepoint through which about 20% of global oil passes. Trump has criticized NATO allies for failing to contribute naval assets, including minesweepers, to secure the strait, calling their response “mixed” and insufficient.

The conflict, now in its third week and dubbed Operation Epic Fury by U.S. officials, has seen extensive strikes across Iran. U.S. and Israeli forces have targeted ballistic missile launchers, production sites, air defenses, nuclear-related facilities at Natanz and command centers, with CENTCOM reporting significant degradation — missile attacks from Iran down roughly 90% since operations intensified.

Iranian casualties remain high, with the regime reporting over 1,400 deaths and thousands wounded, though independent estimates suggest higher figures among military personnel. Civilian impacts include strikes on residential areas in Tehran, with rescuers searching rubble in the Resalat district after a building collapse attributed to the campaign.

Iran’s new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei issued a rare statement offering condolences for Larijani’s death and warning of retaliation, while the regime’s foreign ministry condemned the strikes as violations of sovereignty during ongoing nuclear talks. Tehran has widened attacks to include U.S. bases in Iraq and allied interests in the Gulf, with recent incidents in Dubai, Doha and other states from missile and drone activity.

The White House described Khatib’s killing as “a good thing” for U.S. interests, citing his role in alleged cyber operations and repression. Trump reiterated no immediate deal is possible without Iran halting aggression, dismissing diplomacy amid the violence.

International reactions include U.N. calls for ceasefire and an emergency Security Council session, with China and Russia condemning the strikes as “imperialist.” European allies express support for Israel’s self-defense but urge de-escalation to avoid wider war.

As strikes continue, the assassinations of Khatib, Larijani and Soleimani underscore efforts to fracture Iran’s leadership. With missile capabilities diminished but proxy forces like Hezbollah active, the conflict risks further regional spillover.