TEHRAN, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Monday offered condolences over the death of Alireza Tangsiri, chief commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy, the official news agency IRNA reported.
In a message, Khamenei described Tangsiri as a "brave commander" who "attained martyrdom after years of struggle."
The IRGC confirmed in a statement on Monday that Tangsiri, 64, died from severe injuries sustained while on duty, saying he was "organizing and strengthening his forces and beefing up the country's defensive shield along the islands and coastlines targeted by hostile forces."
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz claimed on Thursday that Tangsiri was killed in an overnight airstrike, which also killed other senior Navy officials.
Israel's state-owned Kan TV news, citing an Israeli official, reported earlier in the day that the airstrike targeted an Iranian naval base in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas. ■
