diff --git a/crates/jackdaw_panels/src/tabs.rs b/crates/jackdaw_panels/src/tabs.rs
index 9d9929a0..36eedf1b 100644
--- a/crates/jackdaw_panels/src/tabs.rs
+++ b/crates/jackdaw_panels/src/tabs.rs
@@ -21,8 +21,7 @@ pub struct DockTabPlugin;
 
 impl Plugin for DockTabPlugin {
     fn build(&self, app: &mut App) {
-        app.add_systems(Update, (handle_dock_tab_clicks, show_close_on_hover))
-            .add_observer(on_close_button_click);
+        app.add_systems(Update, (handle_dock_tab_clicks, show_close_on_hover));
     }
 }
 
@@ -318,15 +317,3 @@ fn show_close_on_hover(
         }
     }
 }
-
-fn on_close_button_click(
-    trigger: On<Pointer<Click>>,
-    close_buttons: Query<&crate::area::DockTabCloseButton>,
-    mut tree: ResMut<DockTree>,
-) {
-    let entity = trigger.event_target();
-    let Ok(close_btn) = close_buttons.get(entity) else {
-        return;
-    };
-    tree.remove_tab(close_btn.tab_id);
-}
diff --git a/src/core_extension.rs b/src/core_extension.rs
index 0cfad9cf..16a71a9e 100644
--- a/src/core_extension.rs
+++ b/src/core_extension.rs
@@ -243,6 +243,7 @@ impl JackdawExtension for JackdawCoreExtension {
         crate::viewport::add_to_extension(ctx);
         crate::command_palette::add_to_extension(ctx);
         crate::document_ops::add_to_extension(ctx);
+        crate::dock_ops::add_to_extension(ctx);
     }
 
     fn register_input_context(&self, app: &mut App) {
diff --git a/src/dock_ops.rs b/src/dock_ops.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bf2e1c6c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/dock_ops.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+//! Operators for the panel docking system.
+
+use bevy::picking::pointer::PointerButton;
+use bevy::prelude::*;
+use jackdaw_api::prelude::*;
+use jackdaw_panels::area::{DockTab, DockTabCloseButton};
+use jackdaw_panels::tree::{DockTree, TabId};
+
+pub struct DockOpsPlugin;
+
+impl Plugin for DockOpsPlugin {
+    fn build(&self, app: &mut App) {
+        app.add_observer(on_close_button_click)
+            .add_observer(on_tab_middle_click);
+    }
+}
+
+pub(crate) fn add_to_extension(ctx: &mut ExtensionContext) {
+    ctx.register_operator::<DockCloseTabOp>();
+}
+
+#[operator(
+    id = "dock.close_tab",
+    label = "Close Tab",
+    description = "Close the specified docked tab.",
+    allows_undo = false,
+    params(tab_id(i64, doc = "TabId of the tab to close."))
+)]
+pub(crate) fn dock_close_tab(
+    In(params): In<OperatorParameters>,
+    mut tree: ResMut<DockTree>,
+) -> OperatorResult {
+    let Some(tab_id) = params.as_int("tab_id") else {
+        warn!("dock.close_tab: missing 'tab_id' parameter");
+        return OperatorResult::Cancelled;
+    };
+    tree.remove_tab(TabId(tab_id as u64));
+    OperatorResult::Finished
+}
+
+fn on_close_button_click(
+    trigger: On<Pointer<Click>>,
+    close_buttons: Query<&DockTabCloseButton>,
+    mut commands: Commands,
+) {
+    let Ok(close_btn) = close_buttons.get(trigger.event_target()) else {
+        return;
+    };
+    commands
+        .operator(DockCloseTabOp::ID)
+        .param("tab_id", close_btn.tab_id.0 as i64)
+        .call();
+}
+
+fn on_tab_middle_click(trigger: On<Pointer<Click>>, tabs: Query<&DockTab>, mut commands: Commands) {
+    if trigger.event().button != PointerButton::Middle {
+        return;
+    }
+    let Ok(tab) = tabs.get(trigger.event_target()) else {
+        return;
+    };
+    commands
+        .operator(DockCloseTabOp::ID)
+        .param("tab_id", tab.tab_id.0 as i64)
+        .call();
+}
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 884a8317..c5c926cd 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ use std::{collections::BTreeMap, marker::PhantomData};
 
 pub use inspector::{EditorCategory, EditorDescription, EditorHidden, SkipSerialization};
 pub mod core_extension;
+pub mod dock_ops;
 pub mod document_ops;
 pub mod ext_build;
 mod extension_lifecycle;
@@ -313,6 +314,7 @@ impl Plugin for EditorCorePlugin {
         .add_plugins(extensions_dialog::ExtensionsDialogPlugin)
         .add_plugins(hot_reload::HotReloadPlugin)
         .add_plugins(pie::PiePlugin)
+        .add_plugins(dock_ops::DockOpsPlugin)
         // Force-exit on `AppExit`: bypass wgpu device cleanup
         // and AsyncComputeTaskPool shutdown that otherwise hang
         // the process after window close. Hosted here so every