Tehran/Washington/Tel Aviv, March 26–27 (ANI): Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGC-N), has been killed in an Israeli airstrike in Bandar Abbas, according to confirmations from both Israeli officials and the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), marking a major escalation in the ongoing West Asia conflict.
Initial reports from Israeli media on Thursday, citing an unnamed official, claimed Tangsiri had been killed, though there was no immediate confirmation from Iran or the Israeli military at the time. Later, the United States Central Command officially confirmed his death, describing it as a significant blow to Iran’s naval capabilities.
CENTCOM commander Brad Cooper stated that Tangsiri’s elimination “makes the region safer,” alleging that under his leadership, IRGC-N forces were responsible for attacks on merchant vessels, drone and missile strikes, and civilian casualties. He also noted that Tangsiri had been designated a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the US Treasury in 2019, with additional sanctions imposed in 2024.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the operation, stating that Israeli forces had “eliminated the Commander of the IRGC Navy,” calling him a central figure behind maritime attacks and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The Israel Defense Forces said the strike, conducted by the Israeli Air Force with intelligence support, also killed Hanam Rezaei, head of the IRGC Navy’s Intelligence Division.
According to Israeli statements, Tangsiri played a key role in coordinating Iranian military operations in the Gulf region, overseeing maritime activities, and disrupting global shipping routes, including actions affecting the Strait of Hormuz.
The development comes amid intensifying hostilities following Iranian retaliatory operations under “Operation True Promise 4.” The IRGC claims to have launched dozens of missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli military sites and US bases across the region, with allied groups such as Hezbollah and Iraqi militias also joining the conflict.
Meanwhile, the US is reportedly considering further military deployments, including elements of the 82nd Airborne Division, as part of contingency planning for potential ground operations in strategic areas such as Kharg Island.
CENTCOM warned that US strikes against IRGC naval forces would continue and urged Iranian personnel to abandon their posts to avoid further casualties, signaling the likelihood of continued escalation in the region.
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