Tel Aviv/Tehran, 26 March 2026 (dpa/MIA) - Israel targeted and killed the naval commander of the Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Thursday.

The Israeli army had “neutralized” Admiral Aliresa Tangsiri “along with senior officers of the naval command,” Katz said in a statement. There was initially no confirmation of this from Iran.

Tangsiri was killed in an airstrike on Wednesday evening, an Israeli military spokesman said. Katz said Tangsiri was "directly responsible for the terror operation of mining and blocking the Strait of Hormuz for shipping."

His killing was a clear message to all leading members of the Revolutionary Guards who currently controlled Iran, Katz said.

"The Israeli army will hunt you down and eliminate you one by one." It was also an expression of support for US efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Operations in Iran would continue "with full force to achieve the war objectives."

Tangsiri had led the Revolutionary Guards' naval forces since 2018 and oversaw operations in the Gulf, including the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

In Tehran, scepticism prevails, with many in the leadership suspecting that Washington may be seeking to distract from potential military operations targeting Iran's key oil export hub on Kharg Island or the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for the global oil and gas trade.

"The US backed Israel's blockade of Gaza, cutting aid under 'security' claims, yet condemns Iran for defending itself in Strait of Hormuz," Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X.

"Double standard: Israel's crimes are OK while Iran's defense against aggressors is condemned. International law is not tool of convenience."

Parliament Speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf warned on X of a possible "occupation of an Iranian island" by "enemies" with the support of a state in the region. If that happened, he said, that country would have to expect attacks on all its critical infrastructure.

Photo: Tangsiri on X