US Submarine Torpedoes Iranian Frigate Near Sri Lanka as Regional War Intensifies

In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, an American submarine has sunk an Iranian naval warship in waters off the southern coast of Sri Lanka, according to US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Speaking during a press briefing at the Pentagon on Wednesday, Hegseth said the Iranian vessel had been destroyed by a torpedo launched from a US submarine.

He described the operation as a rare naval engagement, noting that it was the first time since the Second World War that an American submarine had sunk an enemy warship in combat.

“An Iranian naval vessel believed it was operating safely in international waters,” Hegseth said. “But it was struck and destroyed by a torpedo fired from a US submarine.”

Heavy Casualties Reported

Sri Lankan officials confirmed that the warship involved in the incident was the IRIS Dena, a frigate belonging to the Iranian Navy’s Southern Fleet.

According to Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, about 180 crew members were believed to be on board the ship at the time of the attack.

Authorities indicated that at least 80 sailors may have lost their lives, though the exact number remains uncertain as rescue operations continue.

The Sri Lankan Navy said 32 survivors had been pulled from the water and transported to a hospital in the southern port city of Galle, where they are receiving medical treatment.

Many of the rescued sailors reportedly suffered severe injuries and had spent a prolonged period in the sea before being recovered.

Distress Call Triggered Rescue Operation

Sri Lankan defence officials said the frigate issued a distress signal around 5:30 am local time while operating roughly 40 nautical miles off the coast of Galle.

In response, Sri Lanka’s navy and air force launched an immediate search-and-rescue mission.

Two naval vessels and a maritime surveillance aircraft were deployed to the area to assist with recovery efforts.

Officials confirmed that the ship went down just beyond Sri Lanka’s territorial waters but within the country’s designated search-and-rescue zone.

Authorities in Colombo said the operation was conducted in accordance with international maritime obligations.

Warship Had Recently Visited India

The IRIS Dena had recently taken part in the International Fleet Review and the multinational naval exercise MILAN-2026, both hosted by the Indian Navy.

The frigate had docked in Visakhapatnam in February, where naval vessels from several countries gathered for the event.

The ship’s participation in the international exercises had been viewed as part of Iran’s diplomatic naval outreach in the Indian Ocean region.

The vessel, named after Mount Dena in southwestern Iran, was one of the Iranian Navy’s domestically constructed Moudge-class frigates.

Designed for patrol and combat operations in regional waters, the warship displaced roughly 1,300 to 1,500 tons and was equipped with anti-ship missiles, naval artillery, torpedo systems and radar capable of tracking multiple targets.

It also featured a landing platform for helicopters.

Military analysts said the frigate would likely have been armed with Qader anti-ship missiles, a 76-millimetre naval gun, and torpedo launch systems.

Strategic Waters in the Indian Ocean

The incident occurred in waters south of Sri Lanka, a strategically important maritime corridor through which a large portion of global trade and energy shipments pass.

The region sits along major sea routes linking Asia, the Middle East and Europe, making it one of the busiest shipping zones in the world.

Naval vessels from several countries, including the United States, China and India, routinely patrol or transit through the Indian Oceantoo secure these critical sea lanes.

Sri Lankan authorities said they are continuing search operations for the missing crew members but have declined to release video footage of the rescue mission because it involved foreign military assets.

Political Reactions and Questions Raised

The sinking has also sparked political debate in India. Congress leader Pawan Khera questioned the implications of the attack, noting that the Iranian vessel had recently been invited to participate in naval events hosted by India before being destroyed near Sri Lanka.

His remarks reflected broader concerns about the growing influence of major global powers in the region and the strategic balance in India’s maritime neighbourhood.

Uncertain Fate of Missing Sailors

Officials in Colombo said that more than half of the crew members remain unaccounted for, raising fears that the death toll could increase significantly in the coming days.

As rescue teams continue to search the waters where the frigate sank, the incident underscores how the widening war between Iran, the United States and Israel is now extending far beyond the Middle East and into the strategic waters of the Indian Ocean.

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