Mar 18, 2026 3:25 PM - Connect Newsroom - Ramandeep Kaur
Israeli authorities say a series of overnight airstrikes on Iran targeted senior intelligence leadership and key energy infrastructure, as hostilities continue between Israel and Iran.
According to a statement from Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, the strikes killed Iran’s intelligence minister, Esmail Khatib, along with several senior officials from the ministry. The claim has not been independently verified, and Iranian authorities have not confirmed any casualties as of publication time.
Israeli officials also said their aircraft struck gas infrastructure in southern Iran. The reported targets include facilities linked to the South Pars gas field, one of the world’s largest natural gas reserves.
Officials indicated the attacks took place in Bushehr province, where energy installations are a critical part of Iran’s domestic supply and export capacity. No official damage assessment has been released by Iranian agencies.
The latest developments come amid ongoing exchanges between Israel and Iran, with both sides reporting military actions but providing limited independently verifiable details.




