A U.S. submarine sunk an Iranian warship named IRIS Dena with a torpedo near the southern coast of Sri Lanka, marking a significant extension of Washington’s engagement with the Iranian navy. Sri Lanka’s deputy foreign minister, Arun Hemachandra, confirmed the incident, stating that the warship was en route from an Indian port back to Iran when it was attacked.
The strike occurred in the Indian Ocean, far from the Persian Gulf, where ongoing conflicts between U.S., Israeli forces, and Iran have led to retaliatory actions such as missile and drone attacks. U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegseth revealed the details at a press conference in Arlington, Va., emphasizing the strategic nature of the submarine attack on the Iranian vessel.
Following the sinking, hospital authorities in Galle, Sri Lanka, reported 87 casualties retrieved by military rescuers, with 32 survivors receiving medical attention. Approximately 60 individuals remain unaccounted for out of the estimated 180 onboard the warship.
A video from the Pentagon captured the moment of impact showing a massive explosion that severely damaged the warship, causing it to sink from the stern. Although the exact date of the footage and the specific type of warship couldn’t be confirmed, visual similarities suggest it was the IRIS Dena.
The IRINS Dena had recently participated in a naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal, as indicated on the exercise’s website. The prefix IRIS denotes Iranian naval vessels, while IRINS, or Islamic Republic of Iran Naval Ship, is occasionally used interchangeably.
General Dan Caine, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, praised the operation as a demonstration of America’s global military capabilities, highlighting the successful destruction of the Iranian vessel. Central Command disclosed that over 20 Iranian ships have been targeted or sunk since the conflict with Tehran commenced.
Despite the incident occurring outside Sri Lankan waters, the country initiated a search-and-rescue operation upon receiving a distress call. Sri Lankan navy spokesperson Cmdr. Buddhika Sampath confirmed the rescue efforts and identified the survivors as crew members of the Iranian vessel.
Rescuers transported the deceased to a local hospital while survivors recounted the submarine attack to Sri Lankan naval officials. The sinking of the IRIS Dena has raised concerns and garnered international attention, particularly in light of the ongoing tensions in the region.
