US Submarine Attacks Iranian Warship in Indian Ocean, Ship Sinks; Sri Lanka Recovers 87 Bodies

Following the incident, the Sri Lankan Navy launched a rescue operation, in which 32 people were rescued from the sinking Iranian naval vessel off Sri Lanka's southern coast and admitted to hospitals.

 Additionally, the Sri Lankan Navy recovered 87 bodies from the sunken Iranian warship.The Iranian ship was returning from the International Fleet Review organized by India.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed that a torpedo fired from a US submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean.

In a press conference at the Pentagon on Wednesday, Hegseth stated that the attack on the Iranian warship on Tuesday night was the first such attack on an enemy vessel since World War II.

The US military also released a video on Wednesday of the attack on the Iranian warship. The video shows a submarine targeting a warship from a distance in the ocean and then striking it with a torpedo.

The US Defense Secretary claimed that an Iranian warship was sunk, which believed it was safe in international waters.

The Congress has raised questions about this US action near India's neighborhood. Congress leader Pawan Khera said that in India's strategic backyard, the US torpedoed IRIS Dena, an Iranian naval vessel and India's guest, while it was returning home from the International Fleet Review organized by India.

US Submarine Attacks Iranian Warship in Indian Ocean, Ship Sinks; Sri Lanka Recovers 87 Bodies#IranianSubmarine #IranWar2026 #IranWarship #IranIsraelWar #USWarCriminal #IsraelIranConflict pic.twitter.com/OPmLpGR3kt

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Earlier, the Sri Lankan Navy confirmed that after receiving an emergency call from the Iranian Navy ship 'IRIS Dena' on Wednesday morning, it rescued 32 people and recovered 87 bodies. A Sri Lankan Navy spokesperson said that the incident occurred outside their maritime territory but within their search and rescue area, so they had to act in accordance with international obligations.

He said they found people floating in the water and rescued them. Later investigation revealed that these people were from an Iranian ship.

According to the spokesperson, the ship's documents indicated that about 180 people were on board, though the exact number of missing persons is still unclear. He also stated that when the rescue operation began, the ship was not visible, but oil slicks and floating life rafts were found in the sea. He also rejected the claim that the ship was targeted by a submarine, saying the cause of the sinking is still unknown.

Earlier, Sri Lanka's Defence Ministry Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyakontha had said that about 140 people are considered missing. So far, Sri Lanka's military has not confirmed the reason for the ship's sinking.