In a major military development, Israel on Thursday, March 26, 2026, claimed to have eliminated Commodore Alireza Tangsiri, the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that Tangsiri was targeted and killed in a precision overnight airstrike in the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas.

Tangsiri was identified by Israel as the primary figure responsible for the recent blockade and mining of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which 20% of the world’s crude oil passes. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the operation, stating that Tangsiri had “a great deal of blood on his hands” and was the mastermind behind the economic sabotage of global energy supplies.

While Iran has yet to officially acknowledge Tangsiri’s death, reports from Bandar Abbas indicate several massive explosions occurred around 3:00 AM local time. Tangsiri had served as the IRGC Navy chief since 2018 and was known for his aggressive stance against Western and Israeli maritime presence in the Gulf. If confirmed, his assassination marks the latest in a series of high-profile hits by Israel on Iranian leadership, following the reported deaths of Ayatollah Khamenei and security chief Ali Larijani earlier this month. The incident has sent shockwaves through global markets, with oil prices surging over $100 a barrel.