JERUSALEM — Israeli defense forces confirmed Wednesday they had conducted a targeted operation resulting in the death of Iran's Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib, marking an unprecedented escalation in covert warfare between the two regional powers. The strike represents the third senior Iranian official killed in less than two days, following similar operations in Damascus and Beirut.

Military commanders received blanket authorization from the security cabinet to engage Iranian leadership targets without requiring case-by-case approval, according to defense ministry officials. The new rules of engagement reflect a strategic shift toward more aggressive preemptive action against Iran's expanding regional influence. "We have entered a new phase of operational freedom," said former Mossad deputy director Yossi Cohen during a security briefing.

Tehran has not officially acknowledged Khatib's death, maintaining silence across all government channels despite Israeli claims of successful elimination. Intelligence analysts suggest Iran's delayed response indicates either confirmation difficulties or deliberate strategic ambiguity. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has increased alert levels at key facilities but issued no public statements regarding recent personnel losses.

Regional security experts warn the assassination campaign could trigger broader Iranian retaliation against Israeli interests worldwide. "This represents the most significant escalation in shadow warfare since the Soleimani killing," observed James Mitchell, director of Middle East analysis at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. The operations signal Israel's determination to prevent Iranian nuclear advancement through targeted elimination of key decision-makers rather than conventional military strikes.