IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi and four other IRGC commanders who made a “courageous and timely” move in the recent capture of American boats and sailors near Iran’s Farsi Island were awarded by the Leader with the 'Order of Fath'.
Ayatollah Khamenei, who is the Chief Commander of the Iranian Armed Forces, also approved the promotion of other commanders and staff involved in the operation as per the request of Iranian Armed Forces General Staff.
The awards were bestowed one week after the Leader described the move as admirable, courageous, and faithful.
“Your move was very excellent, interesting, and timely,” Ayatollah Khamenei said last Sunday.
The IRGC officers on January 12 captured 10 US Navy sailors who had trespassed Iran’s territorial waters in the Persian Gulf.
One day later, the IRGC Public Relations in a statement said the sailors were freed following an apology from the US and after technical and operational investigations indicated that the intrusion into Iranian territorial waters was “unintentional”.