An Iranian warship named IRIS Dena sank near the coast of Sri Lanka after it was hit by a US submarine torpedo. The attack happened in international waters, just days after the ship took part in a naval event in India. The incident has increased tensions in the ongoing war between the United States and Iran.
The Sri Lankan navy said it received a distress signal from the Iranian ship at 5:08am on March 4. Rescue teams were sent immediately. By the time they reached the area, the ship had already sunk. Officials said they found oil patches, broken parts of the ship, and life rafts floating in the sea.
According to Sri Lankan authorities, 87 bodies were recovered and 32 people were rescued alive. The rescued sailors were taken to a hospital in Galle, a city in southern Sri Lanka. More than 60 crew members are still missing and are feared dead.
The US Department of War released a video showing a US submarine firing a torpedo at the Iranian vessel. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the submarine sank the ship in international waters. He described the attack as a strong message of American military power.
The sinking happened during a period of very high tension between the United States and Iran. Just days earlier, the US and Israel carried out joint strikes on Iranian targets. During those strikes, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was reportedly killed. Iran responded with retaliatory attacks.
US President Donald Trump said that Iran posed an immediate threat and that the US acted before Iran could attack American or Israeli interests. The White House said Iran’s regime had been “absolutely crushed.”
US military officials said this was the first time since 1945 that an American submarine used a Mark 48 torpedo to sink an enemy warship. A torpedo is an underwater missile designed to hit ships below the waterline. The Mark 48 is known for being powerful and accurate.
The US Central Command earlier said it had already sunk 17 Iranian warships in recent days. The attack on IRIS Dena is part of a larger naval conflict in the region.
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi strongly condemned the attack. He said the US struck the ship without warning in international waters. In a public message, he warned that the United States would regret this action.
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Before the attack, IRIS Dena had visited Visakhapatnam in India. It had taken part in the International Fleet Review and the Milan 2026 multinational naval exercise. The ship arrived in India in mid-February and left after completing the event.
The Indian Navy had welcomed the ship and described the visit as a sign of friendly ties. After the sinking, officials in India said the incident happened outside Indian territorial waters.
Experts in New Delhi have questioned whether the US informed India in advance about its naval operations in the Indian Ocean. So far, India’s Ministry of External Affairs has not issued an official statement on the matter.
Sri Lanka played a major role in rescue efforts. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said the navy quickly sent ships and aircraft after receiving the distress call. Navy spokesman Commander Buddhika Sampath said many sailors were found floating in the water.
The bodies of the victims were taken to the National Hospital in Galle. Security was tight around the hospital as trucks brought in the remains. Temporary arrangements were made to store the bodies.
IRIS Dena was one of Iran’s newest warships. It belonged to the Moudge-class frigates. The ship was designed for deep-sea patrol missions. It was equipped with heavy guns, anti-ship missiles, surface-to-air missiles, torpedoes, and even a helicopter. The US Treasury Department had placed sanctions on the vessel in 2023.
The sinking of IRIS Dena marks a serious escalation in the US-Iran conflict. It shows that the war has now expanded into the Indian Ocean region. Many countries are worried that the fighting could spread further and affect global shipping routes.
For now, rescue operations have ended, and attention has turned to diplomatic reactions. Iran has promised a strong response, while the United States says it acted to protect its interests. The sinking of IRIS Dena may become one of the most important naval incidents in recent history.
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