Sri Lanka Recovers 87 Bodies from Iranian Warship Sunk off its Coast by US Submarine/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Sri Lanka recovered 87 bodies and rescued 32 sailors after a U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean. The vessel, one of Iran’s newest frigates, was struck by a torpedo during the escalating U.S.-Iran conflict. The sinking highlights the expanding scope of the war across the region’s seas and airspace.
Iranian Warship Sunk Near Sri Lanka Quick Looks
- A U.S. submarine torpedoed and sank the Iranian warship IRIS Dena.
- Sri Lanka recovered 87 bodies and rescued 32 sailors from the ocean.
- The vessel carried about 180 crew members when it sank.
- Survivors were transported to hospitals in the coastal city of Galle.
- The IRIS Dena, a Moudge-class frigate, was one of Iran’s newest naval ships.
- The attack is part of a broader U.S.–Israel campaign targeting Iran’s military.
- U.S. officials say multiple Iranian naval vessels have been destroyed.
- The conflict is increasingly spreading beyond Iran’s borders.
Iranian Warship Sunk Near Sri Lanka Deep Look
Sri Lankan authorities have recovered dozens of bodies and rescued survivors after an Iranian warship was sunk in the Indian Ocean by a U.S. submarine, marking one of the most dramatic naval incidents in the escalating war involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.
Sri Lanka’s navy confirmed Wednesday that 87 bodies had been recovered from the sea after the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena sank off the country’s southern coast. Rescue teams also saved 32 survivors from the water.
Officials said the vessel had about 180 crew members on board when it went down.
Rare Submarine Strike
According to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the warship was destroyed by a torpedo launched from an American submarine.
The incident is notable because submarine attacks sinking warships have become extremely rare in modern warfare, with most comparable incidents occurring during World War II.
Hegseth described the IRIS Dena as a high-value target for the U.S. military.
“An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters,” Hegseth said during a Pentagon briefing. “Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo.”
The attack underscores the widening scope of the ongoing military campaign against Iran’s armed forces.
President Donald Trump has stated that one of the primary objectives of the current conflict is to cripple or destroy Iran’s naval capabilities.
Sri Lanka Launches Rescue Operation
Sri Lanka’s foreign minister, Vijitha Herath, told the country’s Parliament that authorities received distress information indicating the Iranian ship was sinking in international waters near the island nation.
In response, Sri Lanka dispatched naval vessels and aircraft to conduct search-and-rescue operations.
However, by the time rescue teams arrived, the frigate had already disappeared beneath the waves.
Sri Lankan navy spokesperson Commander Buddhika Sampath said crews initially found only debris, oil slicks, and scattered life rafts floating on the ocean surface.
Rescuers soon located sailors struggling in the water.
“There were only some oil patches and life rafts,” Sampath said. “We found people floating on the water.”
The survivors were transported to hospitals in the southern coastal city of Galle for medical treatment.
Survivors Receive Medical Care
At the National Hospital in Galle, emergency teams began treating the rescued sailors shortly after they arrived.
Health officials said one survivor remains in critical condition, while seven others required emergency medical care. The remaining survivors were treated for relatively minor injuries.
Meanwhile, trucks carrying the bodies of the deceased sailors began arriving at the hospital, where authorities established a temporary mortuary facility.
Police and naval personnel were stationed at the hospital to maintain security while workers unloaded the bodies away from public view.
One of Iran’s Newest Frigates
The IRIS Dena was among the newest additions to Iran’s navy and served as a Moudge-class frigate, a type of warship designed for long-range operations.
The vessel was equipped with an array of weaponry, including heavy guns, anti-ship missiles, surface-to-air missiles, and torpedoes. It was also capable of carrying a helicopter for reconnaissance and naval operations.
Iran had previously showcased the ship as a symbol of its growing naval capabilities.
In 2023, the IRIS Dena participated in an international deployment that included port visits in several countries, including South Africa and Brazil.
During that mission, the frigate sailed alongside the support ship IRIS Makran, a converted oil tanker used by Iran’s navy to extend the range of its naval operations.
Sanctions and Strategic Targets
Both the IRIS Dena and IRIS Makran were placed under sanctions by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2023.
The sanctions were part of a broader effort targeting Iranian military networks linked to the production of drones that were supplied to Russia during the war in Ukraine.
In the current conflict, American military leaders say Iranian naval forces have suffered significant losses.
Adm. Brad Cooper, the commander of U.S. Central Command, said that at least 17 Iranian naval vessels have been destroyed since the fighting began.
In a video statement, Cooper said the U.S. campaign is focused on eliminating Iran’s naval capabilities.
“We are also sinking the Iranian navy — the entire navy,” he said.
Expanding Naval Conflict
The sinking of the IRIS Dena highlights how the war is increasingly extending into maritime regions far from Iran’s own coastline.
With major shipping routes and international waters becoming potential battle zones, global security analysts warn that the conflict could disrupt international trade and escalate tensions across the wider Indian Ocean and Middle East.
As rescue crews continue recovery operations near Sri Lanka, the destruction of one of Iran’s most advanced warships illustrates the intensifying scale of the conflict — and the growing risks for countries caught near its expanding front lines.
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