Iranian warship IRIS Dena torpedoed by U.S. submarine, escalating Iran-US conflict in the Indian Ocean
A U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship off the southern coast of Sri Lanka, killing 87 sailors and dramatically expanding the ongoing Iran–U.S. conflict into the Indian Ocean, officials said.
The attack occurred near the port city of Galle, hundreds of miles away from the Persian Gulf, where U.S. and Israeli forces are currently conducting strikes against Iran while Tehran continues retaliatory missile and drone attacks.
Sri Lanka’s Deputy Foreign Minister confirmed that the vessel was the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena, which was reportedly returning to Iran from an eastern Indian port when it was struck.
According to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the warship believed it was safe while sailing through international waters.
“An American submarine sank an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters,” Hegseth said at the Pentagon.
“Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo. Quiet death.”
Heavy Casualties and Rescue Efforts
Authorities in Galle reported that 87 bodies were brought to the Karapitiya Hospital by rescue teams responding to a distress call early in the morning.
Sri Lankan officials said an estimated 180 people were on board the warship.
According to authorities, 87 sailors have been confirmed dead, while 32 survivors were rescued and taken to hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, around 60 crew members remain missing. Following the distress signal, Sri Lanka immediately launched a search-and-rescue operation to locate additional survivors in the area.
Sri Lankan Navy spokesman Commander Buddhika Sampath said rescuers arriving at the site initially saw only an oil slick and scattered debris.
“We found people floating in the water and rescued them,” Sampath told reporters.
“Later we learned they were sailors from the Iranian ship.”
Bodies recovered from the sea were transported in trucks to Karapitiya Hospital, where they were placed in the morgue.
Video Shows Warship Explosion
A video released by the Pentagon appears to show the moment the warship was struck.
The footage reportedly captures a large explosion tearing apart the rear section of the vessel, lifting it partially out of the water before it began sinking from the stern.
Although the exact filming date could not be independently verified, analysts noted that the deck structure and mast matched images of the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena.
Survivors, including the ship’s commander and several senior officers, told Sri Lankan naval authorities that the vessel was hit by a submarine torpedo, according to sources familiar with the rescue operation.
Warship Had Just Participated in Naval Exercise
The IRIS Dena had recently taken part in the “Milan” multilateral naval exercise, a biennial drill organized by the Indian Navy in the Bay of Bengal.
The exercise ran from February 18 to February 25 and included naval forces from several countries.
India’s Eastern Naval Command previously welcomed the Iranian vessel at Visakhapatnam, sharing photos of the ship and its crew while highlighting historic ties between India and Iran.
Following the sinking, the Indian Navy did not immediately comment on the incident.
Conflict Expands Into the Indian Ocean
The attack marks a significant escalation in the wider conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.
Until now, most hostilities had been concentrated around the Persian Gulf and Middle East. The sinking of the IRIS Dena near Sri Lanka signals that the confrontation is spreading into the wider Indian Ocean region.
Security analysts warn the incident could heighten global tensions, especially as naval forces from multiple countries operate in the region’s strategic sea lanes.
Sri Lanka has said the attack occurred outside its territorial waters, but the government has pledged full humanitarian support for rescue operations and recovery efforts.
Source: Reuters