Israel assassinated Iran's navy chief over fears he could lead a more dangerous IRGC - exclusive

The Jerusalem Post reports exclusively that Israel assassinated IRGC Navy Chief Alireza Tangsiri on March 26, partly due to fears he could become the next IRGC head, viewed as a more formidable adversary than Ahmad Vahidi. The operation followed a secret March 19 call from a US official to IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir requesting Tangsiri's elimination over concerns about the Strait of Hormuz threat.

The Jerusalem Post reports exclusively that Israel assassinated IRGC Navy Chief Alireza Tangsiri on March 26, 2026, driven in part by Israeli fears that he could become the next head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Top Israeli officials viewed Tangsiri as a highly creative and resourceful commander, whereas Ahmad Vahidi, who eventually became the new IRGC chief, was seen as lacking the power to shape the broader security posture. The operation followed a secret March 19 phone call from a US official, identified as Cooper, to IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir, requesting Tangsiri's elimination over concerns about the Strait of Hormuz threat and naval mining. Zamir approved. The Israeli Navy provided crucial intelligence. The Post notes that US sources had varying levels of confidence about Iranian mining discussions, and Cooper's call was seen as a preemptive move to head off a possible future strategic problem. From the Israeli perspective, there were multiple reasons to target Tangsiri, and Cooper's call helped push forward an operation that already had support.