On Wednesday, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth provided confirmation that a US submarine fired a torpedo and successfully “sunk an Iranian warship” in the Indian Ocean.
During a press briefing, Hegseth described the warship’s current state, stating that it now lies at the bottom of the Persian Gulf.
He emphasised the extent of the destruction, declaring the vessel to be “ineffective, decimated, destroyed…” and urged listeners to choose their preferred adjective, concluding with, “it is no more.”
This incident marks a significant escalation in naval tensions in the region, shedding light on ongoing geopolitical conflicts.
He again confirmed a US submarine operating in the Indian Ocean “sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters.”
X
“Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo, a quiet death – the first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II. Like in that war, back when we were still the war department, we are fighting to win.”
At least 140 individuals are currently unaccounted for, and 32 others have sustained injuries following a reported submarine attack on an Iranian vessel, the frigate Iris Dena, which occurred off the coast of Sri Lanka.
The Iris Dena, which was carrying a crew of 180 at the time of the incident, issued a distress signal early in the morning before it sank in Sri Lanka’s territorial waters.
In response to the emergency, Sri Lankan authorities mobilised resources for a rescue operation, successfully rescuing 32 sailors and transporting them to medical facilities in the country’s southern region.
These hospitals are on high alert to accommodate any additional casualties and provide necessary medical treatment.
Vijitha Herath, Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister, confirmed that the injured sailors are currently receiving care in the hospitals. As part of the rescue efforts, two naval vessels and an aircraft were dispatched to assist in locating the missing crew members and to support the ongoing operations.
🚨 BREAKING: The Pentagon releases footage of a US submarine launching a TORPEDO at an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean
Iranian Yak-130 #IranWar pic.twitter.com/nvrkIhSJ74— JJAY (@jpchordiya_5) March 4, 2026
Navy spokesman Buddhika Sampath told AFP: “We responded to the distress call under our international obligations, as this is within our Search and Rescue Area in the Indian Ocean.
Sampath Thuiyakontha, the Secretary of the Defence Ministry of Sri Lanka, communicated with BBC Sinhala and stated that approximately 140 people remain missing, raising concerns about their safety and condition.
