A US military submarine torpedoed an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean off Sri Lanka’s coast, killing 87 people, The Associated Press reported on Wednesday, citing the country’s navy. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the strike, saying American forces attacked the vessel in international waters.
“The Iranian navy rests at the bottom of the Persian Gulf,” Pete Hegseth said while presenting the footage of the attack in the Indian Ocean.
The video, shared by the US Department of War, showed unclassified drone footage of Iran’s IRIS Dena moments during the strike. The ship initially appeared intact and moving steadily across calm waters. A sudden, massive explosion then erupts near the stern, sending up a huge plume of white water, fire and debris.
The blast tears apart the vessel’s structure in the rear section. Seconds later, thick black smoke billows into the sky as the ship begins tilting heavily to one side.
SRI LANKA SEARCHING FOR SURVIVORS
Sri Lanka launched a search-and-rescue operation after receiving a distress call from the warship.
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said about 180 people were on board when the vessel went down roughly 40 nautical miles from the island’s coast. Sri Lanka’s navy rescued 32 survivors, who were taken to hospital in the southern port city of Galle for treatment.
Naval spokesman Commander Buddhika Sampath said rescue boats that reached the site found only an oil slick floating on the water.
“We are hopeful we can rescue more people and will continue (operations) until we are sure,” Buddhika Sampath said.
He added that the incident occurred outside Sri Lankan territorial waters, but they were still providing assistance.
The frigate had recently taken part in the ‘Milan’ multilateral naval exercise, hosted by India in the Bay of Bengal from February 18 to 25.
IRIS — short for Islamic Republic of Iran Ship — is the prefix most commonly used for Iranian naval vessels, while IRINS, meaning Islamic Republic of Iran Naval Ship, is sometimes also used.
With inputs from agencies
