At least 87 people were killed after a US submarine struck and sank the Iranian warship IRINS Dena in the Indian Ocean, about 40 nautical miles off Sri Lanka’s southern coast. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that an American submarine carried out the strike, describing the vessel as a military target. Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told Parliament that around 180 personnel were on board the Moudge-class frigate at the time of the incident. Sri Lankan authorities said 32 people were rescued, while search and rescue operations continue near the southern port city of Galle.
The warship had recently participated in the International Fleet Review 2026 in India and had made a port call at Visakhapatnam before beginning its return journey. The sinking follows separate US naval operations in the region, including action against an Iranian vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier, Sri Lankan officials had reported uncertainty over the cause of the sinking, but confirmation from Washington that a US submarine was responsible marks a significant escalation in regional naval tensions.
