IRGC Naval Commander Killed in Israeli Airstrike
A high-ranking commander of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) naval unit has been confirmed dead following an Israeli airstrike, as stated by officials from both the U.S. and Israel on Thursday.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) commander, Admiral Brad Cooper, announced the death of Alireza Tansiri through a statement shared on X. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz was the first to declare that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had successfully “eliminated” Tansiri in what he described as a “precise and deadly operation.” Israel asserts that Tansiri played a crucial role in obstructing commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Admiral Cooper elaborated on Tansiri’s background, noting that he had led the Revolutionary Guards-N for eight years. During this period, Tansiri was involved in numerous attacks against innocent sailors and ships using drone strikes and missiles, leading to the loss of many civilian lives. Tansiri had also been designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the U.S. Treasury Department since 2019. According to Cooper, the ongoing Operation Epic Fury has caused significant damage to Iran’s naval capabilities, destroying 92 percent of its large ships.
The strike, which occurred in the port city of Bandar Abbas, also claimed the life of Chief of Naval Intelligence Behnam Rezaei, along with other high-ranking commanders, as reported by The Times of Israel. While Iran has not confirmed or denied Tansiri’s death, the attack marks a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions in the region.
Ali Hashem, a correspondent for Al Jazeera, mentioned that Tansiri had been a key figure in shaping the IRGC’s naval strategy and had been actively overseeing military operations in the Strait of Hormuz recently. He reportedly communicated via social media about which commercial vessels were authorized to transit through the waterway.
According to various industry reports, certain ships have been subjected to exorbitant passage fees, reaching up to $2 million per journey, as traffic in the area has significantly diminished due to insurers retracting war risk coverage.
In a Cabinet meeting, President Donald Trump remarked that Iran had permitted 10 tankers to navigate the strait as a “gift.” Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated that while Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Aragushi has rejected any direct negotiation proposals, “indirect talks” between the U.S. and Iran are ongoing.
Admiral Cooper also appealed to remaining members of the Revolutionary Guards Navy, urging them to “immediately relinquish their duties and return home” in order to mitigate any further risk to their safety.
