U.S. commander confirms death of Alireza Tangsiri, warns Iranian naval personnel to abandon posts as joint military campaign intensifies
Israel said Thursday (March 26) that it had killed the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, Alireza Tangsiri, along with several others in a “decapitation” operation. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Brad Cooper later responded to Tangsiri’s death, urging Iranian naval personnel to immediately leave their positions to avoid unnecessary casualties.
Since February 28, Israel and the United States have conducted coordinated military operations targeting Iran. CENTCOM has played a central role in U.S. strikes and has regularly provided updates on the platform X.
On Thursday, Cooper posted a statement on X regarding the killing of Tangsiri.
“IRGC Navy Commander Admiral Alireza Tangsiri was killed in an Israeli airstrike, making the region safer,” he said.
Cooper added that during Tangsiri’s eight years leading the IRGC Navy, many innocent commercial sailors were harassed by the force. The IRGC also used one-way attack drones and missiles to target vessels, resulting in the deaths of numerous civilians.
He noted that in June 2019, Tangsiri was designated by the U.S. Treasury as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist,” and in 2024 was subjected to additional sanctions linked to Iran’s UAV development program.
In his statement, Cooper also provided an update on the progress of U.S. military operations in Iran.
“Since the launch of Operation ‘Epic Fury,’ 92% of Iran’s major naval vessels have been destroyed. The IRGC Navy has completely lost its ability to project power in the Middle East and globally. Now, having lost its long-time leader, the force is entering an irreversible decline. The United States will continue to carry out military strikes against the IRGC Navy,” he said.
“Therefore, we call on all Iranians serving in the IRGC Navy to immediately leave their posts and return home to avoid unnecessary casualties,” he added.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also said Thursday that Iran has now lost both its naval force and its commander. He emphasized that the U.S. military campaign “is not an endless war, but a decisive action with a clear objective to destroy Iran’s military capabilities and ensure it can never possess nuclear weapons.”
