Photo: Sinking_of_IRIS_Dena_2.jpg, United States Department of war
A United States submarine has sunk an Iranian warship in international waters off southern Sri Lanka, marking what US officials described as the first such naval attack on an enemy vessel since World War II.
| Written by Anshika Chauhan |
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed during a Pentagon briefing on Wednesday that an American submarine fired a torpedo at the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena, resulting in the vessel’s sinking. He described the strike as the “first such attack on an enemy since World War II.”
The Iranian warship went down approximately 40 nautical miles (75 kilometers) off the southern Sri Lankan city of Galle, just outside the island nation’s territorial waters.
Casualties and Rescue Operations
Sri Lanka’s navy reported recovering 87 bodies from the sea and rescuing 32 wounded sailors. The frigate was believed to be carrying around 180 crew members at the time of the incident, leaving dozens unaccounted for as search and rescue operations continue.
According to Sri Lankan authorities, the vessel transmitted a distress call between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. local time (0030–0130 GMT). In response, the government deployed naval ships and air force aircraft to assist.
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told parliament that the navy had received information that the ship was in distress and immediately launched a rescue mission.
A navy spokesperson stated that no other ships or aircraft were observed in the vicinity at the time the Iranian warship sank.
Ship’s Recent Deployment
The frigate IRIS Dena had recently participated in the 2026 International Fleet Review held in Visakhapatnam, on India’s eastern coast. It was reportedly returning from the event when the incident occurred.
Broader Conflict Escalation
The sinking comes amid intensifying hostilities between the United States, Israel, and Iran. The naval strike occurred on the fifth consecutive day of US and Israeli air operations targeting Iranian positions following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, along with nearly 800 others, including civilians.
Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile attacks against Israel and US-linked assets in Gulf countries, resulting in multiple fatalities. US officials report that six American service members have been killed and several others injured in the escalating conflict.
The latest naval engagement signals a widening theater of operations, extending from the Middle East into the Indian Ocean region, raising concerns about further regional destabilization.
Search and rescue efforts remain ongoing as authorities work to determine the full scope of casualties and circumstances surrounding the sinking.
