The Israeli Defense Forces announced Thursday they successfully eliminated Alireza Tangsiri, the naval commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, during a targeted military operation in Bandar Abbas. Israeli officials characterized the strike as part of their continued campaign against Iranian military leadership involved in regional aggression and maritime interference.
According to Israeli military statements, Tangsiri had overseen naval operations for eight years and was directly responsible for orchestrating attacks against commercial vessels, damaging shipping containers, and interfering with maritime traffic through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. The IDF also accused him of playing a key role in missile launches throughout the Middle East amid ongoing conflicts with Israel and the United States.
The same military operation also resulted in the death of Behnam Rezaei, who led the IRGC Navy Intelligence Directorate, according to an announcement from the Israeli military spokesperson posted on social media platform X.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that Tangsiri bore direct responsibility for the Strait of Hormuz blockade, which has caused significant disruptions to international shipping and threatens to spark wider economic instability.
During a security briefing with officials, Katz noted, “This is also an important development for our American partners, as it reflects the IDF’s role in helping to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu characterized Tangsiri as an individual who had “a great deal of blood on his hands” and stated he had “led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.”
Netanyahu further declared, “We continue to strike the targets of the Iranian terror regime with force.”
