Update: 87 bodies of those from the Iris Dena ship are at Karapitiya Hospital - Attack Video released

An Iranian warship has sunk after being attacked by an American submarine in international waters off the southern coast of Sri Lanka. 87 sailors have died due to this attack, which is considered a serious sign of the American and Iranian conflict spreading beyond the Gulf region into the Indian Ocean.

Sri Lanka's Deputy Foreign Minister has confirmed that the vessel is the Iranian warship 'IRIS Dena', which encountered this tragedy while sailing back to Iran from an eastern Indian port.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking at the Pentagon, stated that the Iranian vessel, which was believed to be safely navigating international waters, was subjected to a silent death by a torpedo attack. According to video footage released by the Pentagon regarding the attack, the stern of the ship suffered severe damage from a massive explosion, after which it can be observed gradually sinking into the sea. Observations of the ship's shape and mast have further confirmed it to be the Iranian vessel 'Dena'.

Responding immediately to an emergency distress call regarding the incident, the Sri Lanka Navy launched search and rescue operations. Sri Lanka Navy Media Spokesperson, Commander Buddhika Sampath, stated that rescue teams arriving at the scene could only observe an oil slick floating on the sea. However, the Navy rescued 32 sailors who were floating in the sea and admitted them to Karapitiya Teaching Hospital in Galle for treatment. It is estimated that approximately 180 people were on board the ship at the time of the accident, and the bodies of 87 of them have now been brought to the Karapitiya Hospital mortuary. Authorities state that approximately 60 more people are still missing.

It is reported that among the survivors are the ship's commanding officer and several senior officers, who have informed Sri Lankan authorities that their vessel was hit by a submarine attack. The 'IRIS Dena' had participated in the 'Milan' multilateral naval exercise organized by India in the Bay of Bengal from February 18 to 25. On February 17, the Indian Navy's Eastern Naval Command had posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) account that the Iranian vessel was warmly welcomed at Visakhapatnam port. However, the Indian Navy has not yet made any official statement regarding the sinking of the ship.

Watch the video related to this incident ›