A United States Navy submarine has sunk an Iranian naval vessel in international waters of the Indian Ocean, leaving approximately 140 personnel unaccounted for and marking a dramatic escalation in the ongoing U.S.-Iran confrontation.
U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the strike during a Pentagon briefing, describing it as a targeted operation against a warship that had believed itself secure.
“In the Indian Ocean, we sank an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo,” Hegseth stated.
The vessel was identified by Sri Lankan authorities as the IRIS Dena, an Iranian frigate that sent out a distress call early Wednesday. Sri Lanka’s navy launched a rescue effort in its search-and-rescue region, recovering an unspecified number of survivors (reports from various sources indicate around 32 rescued), while the remaining crew—totaling about 140—are reported missing. The incident occurred off the southern coast near Galle, Sri Lanka.
Hegseth did not name the ship in his initial remarks but affirmed the use of a torpedo in what he described as the first such submarine sinking of an enemy vessel since World War II (though historical records note exceptions like the Falklands War). The Pentagon has released footage purportedly showing the periscope view of the strike.
The attack forms part of broader military operations against Iran, amid heightened regional tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. Concurrent developments include Israeli airstrikes on security targets in Tehran—contributing to the postponement of a funeral ceremony for former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and strikes in Lebanon, including a hotel linked to a Lebanese businessman. Reports also emerged of Iranian-origin attacks in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, with Turkey announcing that NATO defenses intercepted and downed an Iranian missile.
This naval incident underscores the rapid spread of the conflict beyond the Persian Gulf, raising alarms over potential wider involvement and humanitarian fallout at sea. Search operations by Sri Lankan forces continue, with casualty figures subject to updates as recovery efforts proceed.
The sinking has drawn international attention as a bold demonstration of U.S. naval reach in the escalating standoff.
