Nearly 90 dead after Iranian warship struck by US warship off Sri Lanka

Nearly 90 dead after Iranian warship struck by US submarine off Sri Lanka

Over 87 are confirmed dead after Iranian warship struck by US warship off Sri Lanka. File photo

March, 4 2026

(Web Desk): Nearly 90 people are confirmed dead after an Iranian warship was attacked by a US torpedo near the South Asian Island nation of Sri Lanka.

Earlier, over 100 sailors went missing after a US submarine sank an Iranian warship off the southern coast of Sri Lanka, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said.

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijhita Hearth said that 87 bodies of sailors were recovered and search and recovery operations are continuing in the waters off the southern city of Galle, local English newspaper Daily Mirror reported.

While another 32 sailors of the IRIS Dena vessel were wounded and are being treated at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital in Galle, the Iranian warship was carrying 180 crew members.

This act has dramatically widened Washington's pursuit of the Iranian navy, Reuters reported.

Sri Lanka's deputy foreign minister said at least 80 people were killed in the attack on the ⁠frigate IRIS Dena, which was heading back to Iranfrom an eastern Indian port.

"An American submarine sank an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters," Hegseth said at the Pentagon. "Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo. Quiet death".

The Iranian vessel had taken part in a naval exercise held in the Bay of Bengal from February 18 to 25, according to the drill's website.

Sri Lanka said it had launched a search-and-rescue operation to locate survivors after receiving a distress call, with 32 people rescued by its navy and treated at a hospital in ‌the ⁠southern port city of Galle.

Foreign minister Vijitha Herath said 180 people were on board the ship.

Sri Lankan navy spokesman Commander Buddhika Sampath said boats that reached the location observed only an oil slick, adding that the incident took place outside Sri Lankan waters but Colombo was still committed to providing support.

"We are hopeful ⁠we can rescue more people and will continue (operations) until we are sure," Sampath said.

The website of the 'Milan' multilateral naval exercise hosted by India listed an Iranian ship named 'IRINS ⁠Dena' as having taken part in the drill, which was held in the Bay of Bengal off India's eastern coast.

IRIS - or Islamic Republic of Iran Ship - is the more commonly used ⁠prefix for Iranian naval vessels, while IRINS - or Islamic Republic of Iran Naval Ship - is sometimes used.