Israel has claimed the assassination of Alireza Tangsiri, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, during a joint military operation with the United States.
The strike was reportedly carried out by the Israeli Air Force in the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas. According to Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, the mission was successfully executed, with The Times of Israel adding that Tangsiri was killed in the attack.
Al Jazeera’s reporting indicates that the mission was a “precise and lethal operation” that occurred “last night”. In a video statement, a top Israeli official claimed that the strike also eliminated other “senior officers of the naval command”. The official further alleged that Tangsiri was “directly responsible for the terrorist operation of mining and blocking the Strait of Hormuz to shipping”.
Tangsiri had been at the helm of the IRGC Navy since 2018 and was considered a key architect of Iran’s strategy regarding the Strait of Hormuz. Despite surviving multiple previous US-Israeli attacks, he was ultimately targeted in this latest escalation.
This assassination follows a series of high-profile deaths since the start of a joint US-Israeli campaign in late February, which officials claim has already seen the elimination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, the intelligence minister, and a prominent security official. The conflict has recently expanded into the Caspian Sea, with Israeli operations targeting Iranian patrol craft, support vessels, and ships carrying missile systems.
Despite the detailed claims from Israeli officials, Iranian authorities have not yet provided official confirmation regarding the commander’s death. A correspondent reporting from Tehran emphasized that if confirmed, this would constitute a “major blow” for a country that has seen numerous military leaders killed since the conflict began.
