Over 80 feared dead after American submarine sinks Iranian warship near Sri Lanka 

Colombo (Web Desk): A United States (US) military strike has destroyed an Iranian naval vessel in waters near the coast of Sri Lanka, prompting a large-scale rescue effort across the Indian Ocean.

On Wednesday, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that an American submarine launched a torpedo that struck and sank the ship. Sri Lanka’s deputy foreign minister, speaking to local media, said the attack resulted in at least 80 fatalities.

In a statement to parliament, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath identified the vessel as the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena. Sri Lankan officials reported that 32 crew members had been pulled from the water alive, while several bodies were retrieved during recovery operations.

Officials from Sri Lanka’s navy and defense ministry said the warship, carrying a crew of 180, came under attack from a submarine off the island’s southern shoreline. They added that at least 101 individuals were still missing after the incident.

The Sri Lankan navy stated that it received an emergency call from the Iranian vessel at daybreak and swiftly initiated a joint search and rescue mission alongside the air force. Authorities stressed that their foremost concern was saving as many survivors as possible, noting that the cause and circumstances of the strike would be examined later.

Military sources in Sri Lanka said there were no reports of additional ships or aircraft operating in the area when the vessel was hit. A navy spokesperson said operations would continue until there was certainty that no further survivors could be found, expressing optimism that more people might yet be rescued.