US Submarine Sinks Iranian Warship Off Sri Lanka, Escalating Tensions
A US submarine has sunk the Iranian warship IRIS Dena off the coast of Sri Lanka, resulting in significant casualties and marking a notable escalation in regional hostilities.
A United States Navy submarine has sunk the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean, approximately 40 nautical miles south of Galle, Sri Lanka. The incident occurred on March 4, 2026, amid escalating tensions between the US and Iran.
Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath reported that the IRIS Dena, carrying 180 crew members, issued a distress call early Wednesday morning. The Sri Lankan Navy and Air Force initiated a search and rescue operation, recovering 87 bodies and rescuing 32 survivors who were transported to a hospital in Galle.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the attack, stating, "An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters." He noted that this marks the first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II.
The IRIS Dena, one of Iran's newest warships, was armed with heavy guns, surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles, and torpedoes. It had recently participated in the International Fleet Review in Visakhapatnam, India, before the incident.
This event signifies a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran, extending hostilities beyond the Middle East and into international waters.