TEHRAN, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Monday that Alireza Tangsiri, chief commander of its navy, died after sustaining severe injuries while performing his duties.
In a statement published by its official outlet Sepah News, the IRGC extended condolences for Tangsiri's "martyrdom."
The statement added that Tangsiri, 64, died from severe injuries sustained "while organizing and strengthening his forces and beefing up the country's defensive shield along the islands and coastlines targeted by hostile forces." It praised him for the "heavy blows" the IRGC's naval forces dealt to "important" U.S. and Israeli facilities and infrastructure under his command.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz claimed in a statement on Thursday that Israel's military killed Tangsiri in an overnight airstrike, adding that the attack also killed other senior navy officials.
The IRGC stressed that Tangsiri's absence has not disrupted its naval forces' "crushing blows" to enemies or the ability to maintain decisive control over the Strait of Hormuz. ■
