Israel and US targeted IRGC Navy commander Alireza Tangsiri

Alireza Tangsiri, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Bandar Abbas region in late March. The operation was reportedly a strategic move intended to prevent Tangsiri from ascending to the top leadership of the IRGC.

Israeli intelligence assessed Tangsiri as a highly creative and dangerous operational mind, viewing him as a more significant threat than his successor, Ahmad Bahandi. While Bahandi has since taken leadership, Israeli analysts consider him to have more limited capabilities regarding Tehran’s broader strategic security planning.

The United States played a pivotal role in the escalation. Reports indicate that around March 19, U.S. General Brad Cooper held a confidential communication with Israeli Chief of General Staff Eyal Zamir, requesting the neutralization of Tangsiri due to his perceived threat to navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Following this request, the strike was carried out on March 26.