Bodies of 84 Iranian sailors killed in US torpedo strike to be repatriated

In March 2026, the United States Navy sunk the IRIS Dena, an Iranian destroyer, off the coast of Galle. The attack resulted in the deaths of over 100 Iranian sailors. The reason for the US targeting what was described as Iran's "prize" warship is explained by Soraya Lennie. Following the sinking of the Dena, Sri Lanka is currently evacuating sailors from another Iranian ship in the same area. The incident marks a significant escalation in tensions between the US and Iran in the region.

An Iranian navy logistics ship, IRIS Bushehr, offloaded over 200 crew members in Sri Lanka on Friday after experiencing engine failure at sea. This occurred days after a U.S. submarine sank the Iranian warship IRIS Dena off Sri Lanka's coast on Wednesday. The IRIS Bushehr is being brought to Colombo, where sailors will undergo medical exams and immigration procedures before some are transferred to a naval base. Sri Lankan authorities agreed to assist after discussions with Iranian officials, and will later navigate the vessel to Trincomalee. The sinking of the IRIS Dena prompted Iranian condemnation, with officials vowing the U.S. would regret the action.

Sri Lanka is taking control of the Iranian vessel IRIS Bushehr and bringing its crew of over 200 sailors ashore after the ship requested assistance while anchored outside Sri Lankan waters on Friday. The sailors are being disembarked in Colombo and will undergo medical exams and immigration procedures before being taken to a naval base. This action follows the sinking of the Iranian warship IRIS Dena by a US submarine off the coast of Sri Lanka on Wednesday, an event that has heightened tensions in the Indian Ocean. The IRIS Dena had previously participated in naval exercises hosted by India before heading into international waters.

On March 5, 2026, Sri Lanka took control of an Iranian vessel off its coast and began transferring over 200 sailors to shore. This action occurred after the ship sought assistance. The Sri Lankan navy rescued two Iranian sailors from the IRIS Dena warship, who were then escorted to a Judicial Medical Officer in Galle, Sri Lanka. The IRIS Dena warship had previously been seen in the Bay of Bengal during an International Fleet Review in India in February 2026. The article also mentions that the US sank an Iranian warship, although the connection between this event and Sri Lanka's actions is not explicitly stated.

In March 2026, the Iranian warship IRIS Dena was sunk by a US submarine in the Indian Ocean, 44 nautical miles off the coast of Sri Lanka. The incident occurred as the Dena was returning from naval exercises hosted by India. The US Defense Secretary stated the sinking was a deliberate act demonstrating the US's willingness to confront Iran. Iranian officials condemned the attack, emphasizing the Dena was a guest of the Indian Navy after participating in the "Milan" exercise. The sinking resulted in the deaths of over 80 Iranian sailors. The event has raised questions about India's self-proclaimed role as a security provider in the Indian Ocean.

Following the sinking of an Iranian warship, the IRIS Dena, by a U.S. submarine strike in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is assisting a second Iranian vessel. The Sri Lankan government began offloading 208 crew members from the ship near Colombo, including officials, cadets, and sailors. This action comes a day after the U.S. Navy sunk the Dena, resulting in 87 deaths and approximately 10 missing personnel. Iran claims the ship was sunk in international waters without warning and has requested Sri Lanka's assistance in repatriating the recovered bodies. The Dena was returning from a naval exercise organized by India in the Bay of Bengal.

Following the US sinking of an Iranian frigate, a second Iranian ship, identified as a logistical pipe-laying vessel, has requested emergency permission to dock in Colombo, Sri Lanka for engine repairs. The request comes after a US submarine torpedoed the Iris Dena, killing at least 87 sailors, marking an escalation of US-Israeli actions against Iran. The pipe-laying vessel, carrying over 100 crew members, is reportedly near Sri Lankan waters. Sri Lankan authorities, including the president and defense officials, are currently deliberating on how to respond to the docking request, considering regional security. The sinking of the Iris Dena occurred in international waters after a military training exercise in India, prompting strong condemnation from Iran.

A US submarine sank the Iranian warship IRIS Dena off the coast of Sri Lanka on Wednesday, raising regional concerns about the expansion of the Middle East conflict into the Indian Ocean. The sinking occurred near key sea lanes vital for trade between Asia and the Gulf, prompting anxiety in South and Southeast Asia. Sri Lankan authorities assisted in rescuing 32 sailors after the ship went down outside their territorial waters but within their search-and-rescue zone; over 100 are reported missing. The US Defense Secretary confirmed the sinking, stating it was the first torpedo sinking of an enemy ship by the US since World War II. The IRIS Dena had recently participated in a multinational fleet review in India in late February.

Sri Lanka is facing a challenge to its neutrality after a second Iranian vessel sought refuge in its waters. This development occurred one day after Sri Lanka rescued Iranian sailors from a warship that was reportedly sunk by a U.S. submarine. The incident places Sri Lanka in a precarious position, caught between Iran and the United States. The arrival of the second vessel is testing Sri Lanka's ability to maintain a neutral stance amidst escalating tensions in the region. The events are unfolding in Sri Lankan waters, creating a complex diplomatic situation for the island nation.

The US Navy reportedly sank the Iranian warship IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean using a MK-48 torpedo fired from the USS Charlotte, a Los Angeles-class submarine. The US Department of Defense released video footage of the attack as part of a campaign to eliminate Iran's navy. US officials stated the goal is to prevent Iran from disrupting the flow of oil and gas in the region. According to the US, the campaign, launched jointly with Israel, has already struck or sunk approximately 20 Iranian ships and targeted naval facilities. The US Secretary of Defense declared the Iranian navy effectively destroyed. The US Secretary of State stated the aim is to eliminate the threat posed by the Iranian navy to global shipping.

According to US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, a US submarine sank an Iranian warship, the Iris Dena, in the Indian Ocean on Tuesday. The ship went down approximately 40km off the coast of Sri Lanka, prompting a rescue operation by the Sri Lankan navy after a distress call. Eighty bodies were recovered, and 32 survivors were taken to a local hospital. While Hegseth claimed this was the first sinking of an enemy ship by a US torpedo since World War II, other countries have done so since. The US Department of Defense released video footage appearing to show the sinking. The Iris Dena, a destroyer attached to Iran's Southern Fleet, had recently participated in a military exercise hosted by India.

In March 2026, a US submarine sank an Iranian military ship off the coast of Sri Lanka. Over 100 crew members are currently missing, prompting a search and rescue operation. The incident occurred near Sri Lanka, and survivors are being treated at a hospital in Galle. The reason for the sinking was not specified in the provided article. Al Jazeera is reporting on the situation from Galle, where the aftermath is unfolding.

According to the US Secretary of Defense, a US submarine torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship, the Iris Dena, off the coast of Sri Lanka on Tuesday night. The attack resulted in the deaths of over 80 Iranian sailors. Sri Lanka's coastguard received a distress call and dispatched naval vessels to the scene, which was located 44 nautical miles from Galle, within Sri Lanka's economic zone but outside its territorial waters. The attack marks an escalation in hostilities between the US and Iran amid the ongoing war in the Middle East and is the first US military action against Iran outside of that region since the conflict began. The Iris Dena, a modern frigate equipped with various missiles and weaponry, was likely returning from an international fleet review hosted by the Indian navy.

A U.S. Navy submarine used a Mark 48 ADCAP torpedo to sink an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka. The $4.2 million torpedo detonated under the vessel, causing it to sink rapidly. War Secretary Pete Hegseth described the strike as the first of its kind since World War II, signaling a more aggressive stance towards Iran. The attack, part of "Operation Epic Fury," involved increased surveillance and naval deployments to demonstrate U.S. maritime dominance. Experts noted the strike's significance, comparing it to the sinking of the General Belgrano during the Falklands War, and highlighting the torpedo's destructive capability. The event is seen as a clear message to Tehran.

On March 4, 2026, a United States submarine reportedly sank an Iranian warship, the IRIS Dena, in international waters off the coast of Sri Lanka. According to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, this was the first US attack on an enemy warship since World War II. The Iranian frigate, with approximately 180 crew members, was returning from a fleet review in India when it sent a distress call about 40 nautical miles from Galle, Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan authorities have recovered bodies and rescued 32 wounded sailors, but at least 80 are reported dead. A search and rescue operation is underway to find the remaining crew members, while the cause of the sinking, according to the US, was a torpedo strike.

Sri Lanka rescued 32 critically wounded sailors after the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena sank on Wednesday just outside Sri Lankan territorial waters. The 180-crew frigate issued a distress call at dawn, prompting a search and rescue operation by Sri Lankan navy vessels and an aircraft. The injured sailors were taken to a hospital in southern Sri Lanka. The cause of the ship's sinking is currently unknown. Sri Lanka's defense ministry continues to search for the remaining crew members of the IRIS Dena, which sank approximately 40km south of the island.