Israel says airstrike killed IRGC Navy chief

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced on Thursday that an Israeli airstrike had killed Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' navy, reports AFP.

"Last night, in a precise and lethal operation, the IDF eliminated the commander of the Revolutionary Guards' navy, Tangsiri, along with senior officers of the naval command," Katz said in a video statement.

"The man who was directly responsible for the terrorist operation of mining and blocking the Strait of Hormuz to shipping was blown up and eliminated."

There was no word from Iran.

A number of other Naval officials, including Tangsiri’s top aides, were also killed in the strike, an Israeli official told local media.

“This is also an important development for our American partners, as it reflects the IDF’s role in helping to reopen the Strait of Hormuz,” Katz later told security officials during a situation assessment.

Since the start of the joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28, Israel has announced the killing of several top Iranian officials, including supreme leader Ali Khamenei and the Islamic republic's powerful security chief, Ali Larijani.

In recent days, Israeli forces have carried out several strikes targeting the naval assets of Iran.

Last week, Israeli airstrikes hit several Iranian naval ships in the Caspian Sea, including ones equipped with missile systems, support vessels and patrol craft.

The US has said repeatedly that eliminating Iran's naval capabilities was a top priority. Since the war began, the US is believed to have taken out around 100 vessels used by the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy and the IRGC.