COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — A significant naval confrontation unfolded in international waters off the coast of Sri Lanka this week, resulting in the sinking of a major Iranian warship by a U.S. submarine. The incident triggered a multinational rescue operation led by the Sri Lankan Navy, which successfully recovered 32 survivors from the stricken vessel.
According to statements from U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena was struck and sunk by a torpedo launched from an American submarine operating in international waters. The confirmation came as search and rescue missions continued in the area.
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath informed Parliament that upon receiving distress signals indicating the Iranian vessel was sinking with 180 personnel aboard, the island nation immediately deployed naval ships and air force aircraft to assist. Navy Commander Buddhika Sampath described the challenging rescue conditions, noting that when Sri Lankan forces arrived at the coordinates, the warship had already disappeared beneath the waves. ‘There were only some oil patches and life rafts,’ Sampath reported. ‘We found people floating on the water.’
The rescued personnel, admitted to a local hospital, sustained various injuries. Dr. Anil Jasinghe, a senior health ministry official, confirmed one individual remains in critical condition, seven require emergency treatment, and others are being treated for minor injuries. Commander Sampath acknowledged the presence of several fatalities in the water but declined to provide specific numbers as recovery operations continue.
The IRIS Dena represents one of Iran’s most advanced naval assets—a Moudge-class frigate equipped with heavy guns, surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles, torpedoes, and helicopter capabilities. The vessel recently completed an international tour in 2023, visiting ports in South Africa and Brazil alongside support ship IRIS Makran.
This incident occurs within the broader context of ongoing naval conflicts involving Iranian forces. U.S. Admiral Brad Cooper, leader of American military’s Central Command, revealed that at least 17 Iranian naval vessels have been destroyed during continuing hostilities, starkly stating, ‘We are also sinking the Iranian navy—the entire navy.’
Both the IRIS Dena and its support ship had been previously sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in February 2023, along with executives of an Iranian drone manufacturer accused of supplying weapons to Russia for use against civilian targets in Ukraine.