Israel alleges that Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the IRGC Navy, was killed in a targeted operation in Bandar Abbas amid rising maritime tensions.
Israel claims that Alireza Tangsiri, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, was killed in an attack in Bandar Abbas.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz asserted that Tangsiri lost his life as a result of a 'precise and lethal' operation carried out during the night, along with other senior naval commanders.
According to Israeli officials, Tangsiri was one of the key figures behind the recent increase in threats and disruptions to ship traffic passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Katz argued that Tangsiri, who has been leading the IRGC Navy since 2018, played a direct role in obstruction and threatening activities against commercial vessels.
The claim of the attack indicates that tensions, which have already shaken global shipping markets, are escalating further. The Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately one-fifth of the world's oil trade passes, is at the center of the crisis.
Iran has previously signaled multiple times that it could restrict or control passage through the strait, warning that vessels linked to its rivals could be targeted.
Since the end of February, numerous vessels have suffered damage due to increasing attacks and threats in the region. As a result of shipowners' risk aversion, there have been significant periodic declines in tanker traffic.
Since the beginning of the war, Israel has claimed that many senior figures, including Iran's religious leader Ali Khamenei and security official Ali Larijani, have been killed. However, Iranian officials have yet to provide any official confirmation regarding Tangsiri's death.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
