Iranian warship sank by US sub in Indian Ocean, Hegseth says
Iranian Warship Sunk by US Sub in Indian Ocean, Hegseth Claims
According to US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, an Iranian warship was sunk by a US submarine in the Indian Ocean. The incident occurred on Tuesday, with the vessel reportedly meeting its fate through a torpedo strike, described as a “quiet death.” While Hegseth did not disclose the ship’s name, his remarks followed reports from Sri Lankan authorities about the navy responding to a distress signal from an Iranian vessel named the Iris Dena on Wednesday morning.
The Iris Dena, a destroyer in Iran’s Southern Fleet, was operating near the southern coast of Sri Lanka when it reportedly sank approximately 40 kilometers offshore. A Sri Lankan defense official informed BBC Sinhala that rescuers recovered 80 bodies from the ship, while the Sri Lankan navy confirmed the rescue of 32 additional survivors. The navy estimated that around 180 individuals were likely aboard the vessel, with the injured brought to a hospital in Galle, the southern port city.
“Some 180 people were believed to have been aboard the Iris Dena,” stated a Sri Lankan navy spokesperson. “The survivors were seriously injured and transported to Galle for medical care.”
Hegseth emphasized during a news conference that the Iranian ship had “thought it was safe in international waters” before being targeted. He also asserted that this was “the first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War Two.” However, the Sri Lankan navy’s Budhika Sampath contested this, noting that at the time of rescue efforts, no other vessels were observed in the area. Sampath explained that oil slicks and life rafts were the only visible signs of the ship’s demise.
Despite the ship’s location being outside Sri Lanka’s territorial waters, Sampath added that it fell within the country’s search and rescue jurisdiction, prompting a response in accordance with international protocols. The Iris Dena, launched in 2015, had recently participated in the International Fleet Review 2026 hosted by India, highlighting its recent operational activity.
Broader Conflict Context
The incident coincides with ongoing military actions between the US and Israel against Iran, entering their fifth day. Israeli forces reported striking “security headquarters” in Tehran on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Iran is believed to have launched retaliatory strikes, targeting locations in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Turkey also confirmed that “NATO defences” intercepted an Iranian missile aimed at its territory.
Sri Lanka has maintained neutrality in the escalating tensions, urging “restraint and immediate de-escalation” from all parties involved. Its foreign affairs minister, Vijitha Herath, paid tribute to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after his assassination on Saturday. A government representative later stated that Sri Lanka would issue formal condolences for all casualties, including Iranian officials and leaders.
Video released by the US Department of Defense depicted a ship being struck, leading to the bow rising and subsequent explosions. While the Sri Lankan navy initially dismissed submarine involvement, the footage adds weight to Hegseth’s account of the attack. The claim of a torpedo strike being the first since World War Two remains unconfirmed, as the UK and Pakistan have previously used torpedoes to sink vessels in the region.
