An Iranian naval warship sank in the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka after a torpedo attack by a US submarine on Wednesday.
The incident marks a significant escalation in the ongoing military confrontation between the US and Iran.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that an American submarine launched the torpedo strike in international waters. He described the attack as a quick and decisive blow.
“This was a quiet death for the vessel,” Hegseth said.
The destroyed ship was identified as IRIS Dena, a modern Moudge-class frigate from Iran’s Southern Fleet. The warship carried nearly 180 sailors and was equipped with heavy artillery, surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles, torpedoes, and a helicopter.
Sri Lankan naval authorities said they received a distress signal early in the morning. Rescue teams were quickly deployed to the site.
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Officials reported that 32 sailors were rescued from the sea. Several bodies were also recovered, while many crew members remain missing.
Survivors told rescuers that a powerful explosion shook the vessel moments before it began sinking. Reports indicate that the ship was returning to Iran after participating in a joint military exercise near India’s eastern coast.
During a press briefing, Hegseth said the strike was part of a broader military campaign targeting Iranian forces. He stated that US operations had already destroyed 17 Iranian naval vessels.
“The Iranian air force is no more. The Iranian navy rests at the bottom of the Persian Gulf,” Hegseth said.
US Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper said the military campaign is focused on neutralizing threats from Iranian forces.
“We are focused on shooting at anything that can shoot at us,” Cooper said.
US forces have used advanced aircraft, including the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber and the B-1 Lancer strategic bomber, to attack Iranian military facilities and naval assets.
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The growing conflict has also increased tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil transport routes. Nearly 20 percent of global oil shipments pass through this narrow waterway.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed they now have complete control of the strait and warned that ships passing through could be targeted. Because of the rising risk, insurance companies have raised concerns, and shipping traffic in the area has slowed.
US President Donald Trump said American naval forces would protect commercial vessels traveling through the region.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron said Western allies are considering a military operation to keep the route open.
The attack on IRIS Dena occurred nearly 2,500 nautical miles from the Strait of Hormuz, deep in the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka. This marks the furthest point the conflict has reached so far.
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The warship was one of Iran’s newest vessels and had been sanctioned by the US Treasury Department in February 2023. The sanctions were linked to an Iranian drone manufacturer accused of supplying weapons used by Russia in the Ukraine war.
At the same time, Israel carried out new strikes on Iranian and Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, adding to the widening regional conflict.
With both sides continuing military operations, global markets remain nervous. The situation around the Strait of Hormuz remains a major concern due to its impact on global oil and gas supplies.
