Colombo: The conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran entered its fifth day as an Iranian naval vessel was reportedly sunk near Sri Lanka during a military strike.
According to Sri Lankan authorities, the Iranian warship IRIS Dena was attacked and sunk in the Indian Ocean near the southern coast of Sri Lanka. At least 87 Iranian sailors are reported to have died in the incident.
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said an American submarine targeted the Iranian ship with torpedoes in the Indian Ocean.
Rescue operation underway
Sri Lanka’s navy rescued 32 injured sailors and shifted them to hospitals. Officials said about 180 naval personnel were believed to be on board the vessel at the time of the attack.
Search and rescue operations are ongoing to locate the missing sailors.
Warship returning from India
The warship had recently participated in the 2026 International Fleet Review held in Visakhapatnam, India, and was returning from the event when it came under attack.
Sri Lankan officials told media that the vessel sent a distress message between 6 am and 7 am (IST). At the time of the incident, the ship was about 40 nautical miles (around 75 km) from the coastal city of Galle.
The incident marks a major escalation in the ongoing regional conflict.
