Albanese says Australian troops were on board US submarine that sank Iranian ship

South China Morning PostEN 1 min read 100% complete by Agence France-PresseMarch 6, 2026 at 02:11 AM

AI Summary

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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that three Australian military personnel were aboard a US submarine that sank an Iranian navy ship, the IRIS Dena, off the coast of Sri Lanka this week. The incident, a torpedo attack that killed at least 84 sailors, marks the first military strike outside the Middle East since the US and Israel initiated their war on Iran. Albanese stated the Australian personnel were participating in training exercises as part of the AUKUS defense pact with the US and Britain. He clarified that the Australian personnel did not participate in any offensive actions against Iran. These arrangements are long-standing and predate the recent conflict.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Israel 40% Donald Trump ×240% Sri Lanka 50% Middle East ×250% IRIS Dena 50% United Kingdom 60% Iranian Navy 60% AUKUS 70% Iran ×370% United States ×370% Australia ×480% Anthony Albanese ×290%

Keywords

australian troops 90% us submarine 80% iranian ship 80% aukus 70% military personnel 60% offensive action 50% training arrangements 50% iris dena 40% middle east 40%