TEL AVIV, ISRAEL (MARCH 18, 2026) (DEFENCE MINISTRY HANDOUT – Access all)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) ISRAELI MINISTER OF DEFENCE, ISRAEL KATZ, SITTING IN ARMY CONTROL ROOM, SAYING:

"The intensity of the strikes in Iran is increasing. We are in the midst of the decisive phase. Following the powerful eliminations of senior regime figures, the de facto leader of Iran Larijani and head of the Basij ‘terror organization,’ Soleimani, overnight Iran’s intelligence minister Khatib was also eliminated, who was responsible for the regime’s internal repression and assassination apparatus, as well as advancing external threats against Israel and countries in the region." Israel’s policy is clear and unequivocal: no one in Iran has immunity and everyone is a target."

2. WHITE FLASH

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) ISRAELI MINISTER OF DEFENCE, ISRAEL KATZ, SITTING IN ARMY CONTROL ROOM, SAYING:

"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I have authorized the IDF to neutralize any senior Iranian official who has been located both intelligence-wise and operationally, without the need for additional approval. We will continue to target and hunt them all. Significant developments are also expected throughout today across all arenas, which will further escalate the war we are conducting against Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon."

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday (March 18) that Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib was "eliminated" in a strike overnight.

There has been no confirmation from Iran regarding Khatib's reported death.

Katz said he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had authorized the military to kill any other senior Iranian official being targeted without the need for additional approval.