A U.S. Submarine has sunk an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, marking the first such incident since World War II, according to confirmation from the U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. The sinking of the IRIS Dena has triggered a search-and-rescue operation led by the Sri Lankan Navy for dozens of missing Iranian sailors, a development that is likely to heighten geopolitical tensions in the region.
As of Thursday, March 5, 2026, authorities have recovered the bodies of 87 crew members from the estimated 180 aboard the vessel, Sri Lankan officials reported. Thirty-two sailors have been rescued and are receiving medical care at the National Hospital of Galle.
According to Commander Buddhika Sampath, a spokesperson for the Sri Lankan Navy, “When we arrived in the area, we didn’t see the ship, only oil slicks in the water and life rafts.” Sampath emphasized that the primary focus remains “saving lives.”
The IRIS Dena was returning to Iran after participating in an international naval review and joint military exercises in Visakhapatnam, India, when it was intercepted and destroyed. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi condemned the incident as an “atrocity,” warning that the United States “will bitterly regret the precedent it has set.”
Araqchi stated, “The United States has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 3,200 kilometers from the coasts of Iran. The frigate Dena was attacked in international waters without prior warning.”
Sri Lanka has also confirmed the presence of a second Iranian vessel within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Nalinda Jayatissa, a minister and government parliamentary group leader, told Parliament, “The government is aware of the matter. We are taking the necessary steps to resolve this issue, limit the threat to lives, and ensure regional security.”
The incident comes as regional security concerns continue to rise, and the sinking of a warship by a foreign power is certain to escalate diplomatic friction.
DZC (EFE, AFP)
