Two high-ranking commanders of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGC-N), including its leader, were killed in an Israeli airstrike, the Israeli military announced Thursday. Alireza Tangsiri, the head of the IRGC-N, and Behnam Rezaei, the naval service's intelligence chief, perished in an overnight operation targeting the fleet's home port of Bandar Abbas.

Israel Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed Tangsiri's death, stating that the 64-year-old commander was among those killed in the strike. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) later revealed that Rezaei was also among the casualties. The IDF further indicated that other members of the IRGC-N's top command were eliminated in the same strike, though their identities were not immediately released.

Tangsiri had been a prominent figure in the Iranian military establishment, notably authorizing the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to shipping traffic, a critical global oil transit choke point. His death marks a significant development amid heightened regional tensions.

The strike comes after a series of other high-profile killings of Iranian officials reported earlier this month. Among those previously reported to have died were Ali Mohammad Naini, identified as a spokesperson for the IRGC; Ali Larijani, described as the regime’s de facto leader; and General Gholamreza Soleimani, who commanded Iran's paramilitary Basij forces. These events collectively represent a substantial attrition of senior Iranian military and political leadership within a short period.

The Israeli military has not provided further details regarding the specifics of the strike or its motivation beyond the initial announcements. The Iranian government has yet to issue a public statement or confirm the deaths of its naval commanders.