Israel’s Channel 12 Reports: IRGC Navy Commander Alireza Tangsiri Killed in Bandar Abbas
Iran’s IRGC Navy commander, Alireza Tangsiri, reportedly killed in Bandar Abbas, according to Israel’s Channel 12. Known for threatening the Strait of Hormuz and confronting U.S. vessels, Tangsiri led the IRGC Navy since 2018. No official Iranian confirmation has been issued.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - According to Israel’s Channel 12, the Commander of the Navy of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Alireza Tangsiri, who was reportedly responsible for closing the Strait of Hormuz, has been "eliminated in Bandar Abbas."
The news of targeting Tangsiri was later confirmed by Israel's Defense Minister.
According to Agence France-Presse, Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said Thursday that an Israeli airstrike killed Alireza Tangsiri, the commander of the naval arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
In a video statement cited by AFP, Katz described the strike as a “precise and lethal operation” carried out by the Israel Defense Forces, which he said also killed senior naval officers. He further alleged that Tangsiri had been directly involved in operations to mine and obstruct shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
AFP reported that since the launch of joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, Israel has claimed the deaths of several senior Iranian figures, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and security chief Ali Larijani.
In recent days, AFP added, Israeli forces have intensified operations against Iran’s naval capabilities. Last week, airstrikes targeted multiple Iranian vessels in the Caspian Sea, including ships equipped with missile systems as well as support and patrol craft.
Alireza Tangsiri has held the position of Commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy since 2018 and was one of the country's hardline commanders. Tangsiri was primarily known for his threats to close the Strait of Hormuz and for confronting American vessels in the waters of the Gulf.
The IRGC Navy plays a key role in controlling the Gulf waters and carrying out fast, small-scale operations against the commercial and military vessels of Tehran’s rivals.
Bandar Abbas is one of Iran's most important naval and economic bases, located in the south of the country; it is considered a primary center for the IRGC Navy's activities to control the Strait of Hormuz.
This article was updated on Thursday, MArch 26, 2026, at 01:50pm.