A torpedo fired by a United States submarine has sunk an Iranian naval vessel in the Indian Ocean near the coast of Sri Lanka, leaving dozens dead and marking one of the rare modern cases of a submarine destroying a warship in open combat.
Sri Lankan authorities confirmed that rescue teams recovered 87 bodies and rescued 32 survivors after the vessel, identified as the IRIS Dena, went down following the attack. The incident is part of the expanding conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
The attack highlights the growing geographical reach of the military confrontation, which is no longer confined to the Middle East.
Rare Submarine Strike in Modern Naval Warfare
According to the United States Department of Defense, the Iranian ship was struck by a torpedo launched from a U.S. submarine while sailing in international waters.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the vessel had been considered one of Iran’s most important naval assets.
“An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters,” Hegseth told reporters at the Pentagon. “Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo.”
Military analysts note that submarine sinkings of warships have been extremely rare since World War II, making the incident a notable development in modern naval warfare.
Sri Lanka Leads Rescue Operation
Sri Lanka’s navy launched an emergency rescue mission after receiving a distress signal from the Iranian ship, which reportedly had about 180 personnel on board.
Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told Parliament that naval ships and aircraft were dispatched to search the waters.
When rescue teams arrived, however, the warship had already disappeared beneath the surface.
“We found only oil patches and life rafts,” said navy spokesperson Buddhika Sampath.
Search teams eventually located survivors floating in the water and recovered numerous bodies.
The rescued sailors were transported to hospitals in the southern coastal city of Galle, where medical teams treated injuries ranging from minor wounds to critical trauma.
Warship Considered Key Iranian Naval Asset
The IRIS Dena was one of Iran’s newer warships and was equipped with heavy artillery, surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles and torpedoes. The vessel also carried a helicopter and was designed for long-range naval patrols.
The ship had previously been sanctioned by the United States Department of the Treasury in 2023, along with executives linked to an Iranian drone manufacturer accused of supplying weapons used in the war in Ukraine.
U.S. officials say the sinking forms part of a broader campaign targeting Iran’s naval capabilities.
Admiral Brad Cooper, who leads operations under United States Central Command, stated that at least 17 Iranian naval vessels have been destroyed since the conflict escalated.
Rising Tensions After Attack
Iran responded by launching new strikes targeting U.S. and Israeli military positions across the region. Iranian officials warned that Washington would “bitterly regret” the destruction of the warship.
U.S. President Donald Trump has previously stated that weakening Iran’s naval power is a central objective of the current military campaign.
The latest developments indicate the conflict is continuing to expand beyond its traditional theatres, raising concerns among analysts about broader regional instability and disruptions to critical international shipping routes.
