Update: Suspected American submarine attack on the Iranian ship that sank near Galle.

Approximately 101 people are missing and about 35 have been rescued following a submarine attack on an Iranian naval vessel in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Sri Lanka. The attack, reported on March 4, 2026, targeted the Iranian Moudge-class warship 'IRIS Dena'.

According to Reuters and Sri Lankan defense sources, the incident was reported approximately 40 nautical miles south of Galle, outside Sri Lanka's territorial waters.

Information regarding the remaining crew members of the vessel, which is said to have carried approximately 180 sailors, is unclear. Following a distress signal issued as the ship was sinking, the Sri Lanka Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard jointly launched a massive search and rescue operation. Currently, Sri Lankan defense forces have managed to rescue between 30 and 35 crew members from the ship. The rescued injured have been admitted to Karapitiya Hospital in Galle for treatment, and local authorities state that the hospital has been kept on high alert for this purpose. The vessel was attacked while sailing back to Iran after participating in a naval meeting in India.

Addressing Parliament regarding this naval emergency, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath stated that Sri Lanka is considering appropriate next steps to respond to the incident. Sri Lanka Navy Media Spokesperson Buddhika Sampath further confirmed that their operations were conducted in accordance with international obligations, as the accident occurred within the Search and Rescue Region of the Indian Ocean.

No country or group has officially claimed responsibility for this submarine attack yet. However, an opposition MP questioned in Parliament whether this attack is connected to 'Operation Epic Fury,' a US-led operation targeting Iranian naval fleets and submarines in the Persian Gulf region, but the government has not provided an immediate response. While there are speculations that this attack involved the American Navy, there has been no official confirmation to date, and further investigations into the incident are ongoing.