US Submarine Sinks Iranian Warship IRIS Dena off Sri Lanka Coast

A United States submarine has reportedly sunk the Iranian warship IRIS Dena off the southern coast of Sri Lanka, a deeply concerning incident that has escalated tensions in the Indian Ocean and drawn strong reactions from multiple nations. The attack, which occurred late on Tuesday night or early Wednesday, March 3rd/4th, 2026, involved a Mark 48 torpedo fired from a US Navy fast-attack submarine. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the strike, characterizing it as a "quiet death" and notably, the first instance of a US submarine sinking an enemy ship with a torpedo since World War II. The Pentagon also released black-and-white footage purportedly showing the torpedo striking the frigate, causing a massive explosion and its subsequent sinking. The IRIS Dena, a Moudge-class frigate, was returning to Iran after participating in the "Milan 2026" multinational naval exercise held in Visakhapatnam, India, from February 18 to February 25, 2026. This detail is particularly significant for India, as the vessel was considered a "guest of India's Navy" during its participation in the drills. The attack resulted in a substantial loss of life. Sri Lankan authorities reported that at least 87 bodies have been recovered, and 32 sailors were rescued, many with serious injuries, from an estimated crew of 180. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, but hopes of finding more survivors are diminishing, with over 100 individuals still unaccounted for. The Sri Lankan Navy received a distress call from the IRIS Dena in the early hours of Wednesday and promptly dispatched naval vessels and aircraft for rescue missions, transporting the injured to hospitals in Galle. Initially, Sri Lankan officials were cautious about confirming the cause, with Navy spokesperson Commander Buddhika Sampath stating that the incident was being treated as an accident and that no other ships or aircraft were observed in the area. However, the US confirmation later clarified the nature of the attack. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi vehemently condemned the US action, calling it an "atrocity at sea" perpetrated 2,000 miles from Iran's shores and warned that the United States would "bitterly regret" the precedent set by attacking the frigate in international waters. This incident is part of a broader, intensifying US-Israeli military operation against Iran, which has seen continuous air assaults on Iran and targeting of pro-Iranian militias in Iraq, and Iran's retaliation with missile and drone strikes across the Middle East. The sinking of the IRIS Dena has significant implications for India. Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi strongly criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "silence" on the matter, emphasizing that the conflict has now reached India's "backyard" in the Indian Ocean. Gandhi expressed concerns about India's energy security, noting that over 40% of India's oil imports transit the Strait of Hormuz, a region already threatened by the escalating conflict. Former Indian Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal also highlighted that the US strike ignored India's sensitivities, as the IRIS Dena was in the region due to India's invitation for the naval exercises, and ships participating in such drills typically do not carry ammunition, rendering them defenseless. Adding to the regional concerns, an Iranian military tanker named Busheir is currently anchored 10 nautical miles off the outer anchorage of Colombo Port in Sri Lankan territorial waters. This presence, occurring shortly after the IRIS Dena incident, suggests heightened monitoring and a potential for further naval activity in the Indian Ocean, making the region a critical flashpoint in the ongoing US-Iran conflict. The sinking of IRIS Dena marks a dangerous expansion of the conflict into the wider Indian Ocean region, affecting maritime security and international relations.

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