“NAVY DECIPHERED”: Israel Eliminates IRGC Naval Intelligence Chief Behnam Rezaei
BANDAR ABBAS / JERUSALEM — In a major blow to Iran’s maritime command, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on Thursday, March 26, 2026, that they have assassinated Behnam Rezaei, the Head of the IRGC Navy Intelligence Directorate. Rezaei was reportedly killed in a precise overnight airstrike in the port city of Bandar Abbas alongside the IRGC Navy’s top commander, Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri.
The elimination of Rezaei represents the removal of the primary architect behind Iran’s maritime surveillance and targeting operations in the Persian Gulf.
The Strike at Bandar Abbas
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the operation as a “coordinated decapitation” of the IRGC’s naval leadership.
- Targeted Meeting: Intelligence suggests Rezaei and Tangsiri were meeting with other senior naval officials to finalize plans for a “suicide swarm” drone attack against U.S. carrier groups when the strike occurred.
- Total Command Collapse: Along with Rezaei and Tangsiri, the IDF claims to have eliminated the “entire senior command” of the IRGC Navy present at the facility, including General Masib Bakhtiari, commander of Iran’s First Fleet.
- The “Message”: “The IDF will hunt you down and eliminate you one by one,” Katz stated during a morning assessment. “This individual [Rezaei] was responsible for the intelligence that allowed the mining of the Strait of Hormuz.”
Who was Behnam Rezaei?
As the head of Naval Intelligence, Rezaei was the “eyes and ears” of the IRGC’s maritime efforts.
| Responsibility | Strategic Impact of Removal |
| Intelligence Collection | Led years of intelligence gathering on regional countries and Western naval movements. |
| Targeting Arrays | Oversaw the identification of commercial tankers for IRGC “seizure” operations. |
| Inter-Agency Liaison | Served as the primary coordinator between IRGC Navy and other Iranian intelligence bodies (MOIS). |
| Technological Lead | Managed the deployment of coastal radar and “shadow” tracking systems used to evade U.S. detection. |
Netanyahu: “Full Force”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation following the confirmation of the strike, framing the killing as a joint success with the United States.
“Last night, we eliminated the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ navy and his intelligence chief. These individuals have a great deal of blood on their hands. This is yet another example of the cooperation between us and our friend, the United States.” — PM Benjamin Netanyahu
What’s Next?
The death of Rezaei leaves the IRGC Navy “blind” at a critical moment. With the Friday morning sunrise deadline approaching, the lack of an intelligence lead makes it significantly harder for Iran to coordinate a sophisticated response to the anticipated U.S. ground incursion on Kharg Island.