Iranian frigate Iris Dena sunk by US submarine off the coast of Sri Lanka

On March 4, 2026, an Iranian frigate identified as Iris Dena was sunk by a US submarine in international waters off the coast of Sri Lanka. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed the military operation, which involved the use of a torpedo against the vessel. The Iranian ship was reportedly returning from a naval exercise hosted by India at the time of the attack. According to officials in Sri Lanka, the ship carried a crew of 180 people. Search and recovery efforts by local authorities have resulted in the rescue of 32 individuals and the retrieval of 87 bodies. Approximately 60 crew members remain missing. The Pentagon released footage documenting the strike, which showed a significant explosion impacting the rear section of the ship. This event marks the first instance of a US submarine sinking an enemy vessel via torpedo since World War II.