US CENTCOM Confirms Death of IRGC-N Commander Tangsiri in Israeli Airstrikes
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has officially confirmed that Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGC-N), was killed in an Israeli airstrike. This announcement, made on Thursday, represents a significant and dramatic development in the ongoing and volatile conflict in West Asia, underscoring the escalating military tensions in the region.
Statement from US CENTCOM Commander
In a detailed and strongly worded statement, Admiral Brad Cooper, the Commander of US CENTCOM, asserted that the elimination of Tangsiri "makes the region safer." He elaborated that under Tangsiri's eight-year leadership, the IRGC-N had engaged in a pattern of aggressive and destabilizing activities. These included:
- Harassing thousands of innocent merchant mariners.
- Attacking hundreds of vessels using one-way attack drones and missiles.
- Causing countless civilian casualties through these maritime operations.
The statement further highlighted that Tangsiri had been designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the US Treasury in June 2019, with additional secondary sanctions imposed in 2024 related to his involvement in drone development programs.
Impact of Operation Epic Fury
Admiral Cooper also provided an update on Operation Epic Fury, the US-led military campaign targeting Iran's naval forces. He revealed that this operation has resulted in the elimination of 92% of the large ships in the Iranian Navy. This devastating blow has effectively crippled the IRGC-N's ability to project power within the Middle East or beyond its borders.
The CENTCOM chief issued a stark warning, stating, "U.S. military strikes on the IRGC-N will continue." He urged all Iranian personnel serving in the IRGC-N to immediately abandon their posts and return home to avoid further risk of injury or death.
Israeli Defense Forces Confirmation and Details
Earlier on the same day, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the successful strike, which was carried out overnight in Bandar Abbas. The operation, executed by the Israeli Air Force under precise intelligence guidance from Military Intelligence and the Navy's Intelligence Branch, targeted the top command echelon of the IRGC Navy.
The IDF detailed Tangsiri's key roles, which included:
- Overseeing the regime's maritime terror activities.
- Coordinating between Iranian military forces operating in the Gulf region.
- Leading efforts to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
- Promoting terror actions in the maritime domain, thereby disrupting the global economy.
Alongside Tangsiri, the IDF confirmed the elimination of Hanam Rezaei, the head of the Navy's Intelligence Division. Rezaei was described as a "hub of knowledge in maritime intelligence" who engaged in intelligence gathering on regional countries and led collaborations with various intelligence organizations.
Strategic Blow to Iranian Command
According to the IDF, this targeted operation joins dozens of previous eliminations of Iranian commanders. It constitutes another severe blow to the Revolutionary Guards' command and control systems, significantly degrading their capacity to conduct terror activities in the maritime domain against regional countries. This event marks a critical juncture in the geopolitical landscape of West Asia, with potential ramifications for regional security and international maritime trade routes.
