Israeli Source Announces Assassination of Commander of Revolutionary Guards Navy

SadaNews - A senior Israeli official announced on Thursday the assassination of Ali Reza Tangsiri, the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Navy, in an airstrike that targeted him in the southern city of Bandar Abbas, Iran.

The official Israeli broadcasting agency reported from an unnamed Israeli source claiming the execution of a "precise airstrike" that targeted Tangsiri, leading to his death in the Gulf Arab city of Bandar Abbas.

The source indicated that Tangsiri was responsible for closing the Strait of Hormuz to ships.

The broadcasting agency noted that Tangsiri "is among the most prominent Iranian military leaders, with extensive influence in Tehran's maritime strategy, especially regarding the ongoing threat to close the Strait of Hormuz through which nearly one-fifth of global oil consumption passes."

It added that Tangsiri was overseeing the development of the Revolutionary Guards' naval capabilities, including fast boats tactics, coastal missiles, and drones, "aimed at deterring any foreign naval presence in the region."

The Israeli broadcasting agency mentioned that attention is turning to the nature of the potential Iranian response "amid international warnings that Tehran may activate its historical threats to disrupt maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz or target Israeli and allied interests in the Middle East."

It added that this could "broaden the scope of the conflict and its direct impact on global energy security and the stability of waterways."

Iranian authorities have not yet commented on these Israeli claims, but Tehran launched several missile strikes on central and northern Israel within two and a half hours on Thursday morning, resulting in at least 8 injuries, according to Israeli media.

Since February 28, Israel and the United States have been waging a war against Iran that has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and security officials, with Tehran responding by firing missiles and drones towards Israel.