Israeli airstrikes targeted Bandar Abbas, a key southern Iranian port city, killing Mosayeb Bakhtiari, a senior commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy. Bakhtiari led the IRGC's First Naval Region, according to multiple reports citing Iranian media.

The strike occurred amid an intensifying campaign of U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iranian military targets that began in late February. Iranian sources confirmed Bakhtiari's death, marking another blow to the IRGC's naval leadership. Bandar Abbas, overlooking the Strait of Hormuz, hosts critical IRGC naval assets, making it a focal point in the escalating conflict.

This incident follows a pattern of targeted eliminations. On March 15, Gholamreza Mohammadzadeh, another senior IRGC naval commander, died in similar strikes on the same city. Over the past month, dozens of IRGC figures have been killed, including spokespersons, aerospace commanders, and top generals.

The broader offensive started on February 28 with strikes that reportedly killed Iran's defense minister Amir Nasirzadeh and IRGC commander Mohammad Pakpour. Since then, U.S. and Israeli forces have conducted repeated operations against IRGC sites, Basij units, and proxy networks in Lebanon and Syria.

Israel has not issued a specific statement on Bakhtiari's death, but the Israeli military has confirmed other recent IRGC eliminations, such as those in Shiraz and Tehran. The strikes aim to degrade Iran's military capabilities amid threats from IRGC-backed groups like Hezbollah and ongoing tensions over nuclear activities and regional proxies.

Iranian state media has acknowledged several losses while vowing retaliation. The IRGC recently announced operations against what it calls the 'child-killing Zionist regime.' Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, the overall IRGC Navy commander, remains active, as prior rumors of his death were denied.

The conflict has prompted warnings from IRGC leaders about closing the Strait of Hormuz and targeting U.S. bases. U.S. forces continue operations alongside Israel, with President Trump distancing from some strikes but supporting the campaign.

International observers note the strikes have significantly disrupted IRGC command structures, with over 45 senior officers reported killed in three weeks. No immediate Iranian counteraction followed the Bandar Abbas strike, but tensions remain high as both sides signal further actions.