US Sinks Iranian Warship Near Sri Lanka, 87 Confirmed Dead

Sri Lankan authorities recover bodies and treat survivors after the US sinks an Iranian warship off the coast of Galle.

By Precious E.

At least 87 sailors have been confirmed dead after the United States sank an Iranian warship off the southern coast of Sri Lanka on Wednesday, according to Sri Lankan authorities. Dozens more remain unaccounted for.

The incident marks a sharp escalation in the widening conflict between Washington, Israel, and Tehran, raising fresh concerns about maritime security in the Indian Ocean.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in Washington that an American submarine fired a torpedo at the Iranian vessel in international waters.

He described the strike as the first time since World War II that the United States had sunk an enemy ship using a torpedo.

“We are fighting to win,” Hegseth told reporters.

US Sinks Iranian Warship in Sri Lanka’s Search Zone

Sri Lankan officials said the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena sent out a distress signal at dawn. By the time rescue teams reached the area, the vessel had already gone under.

The attack occurred about 40 kilometers south of Galle, within Sri Lanka’s designated search and rescue zone in the Indian Ocean.

Sri Lankan naval units recovered 87 bodies from the water and rescued 32 sailors, many of them injured. Sixty-one crew members are still missing.

The wounded were taken to a hospital in Galle, where security was tightened as the injured arrived. Authorities said a search operation remains ongoing.

A navy spokesperson said Sri Lanka acted in line with international maritime obligations by responding to the distress call. Officials added that no operational footage would be released due to the involvement of a foreign military.

The Iranian warship had reportedly taken part in a military exercise in the Indian port city of Visakhapatnam before the attack.

Iran has not issued an official statement on the sinking. Tehran’s ambassador to Colombo was unavailable for immediate comment.

Why the US Sank Iranian Warship

The sinking of an Iranian naval vessel in waters close to Sri Lanka expands the geographic reach of a conflict that had largely been concentrated in the Middle East.

The Indian Ocean is a major shipping corridor linking Asia, Africa, and Europe. Any military confrontation in these waters could disrupt global trade routes and energy supplies.

For Sri Lanka, the situation carries economic and diplomatic weight. More than one million Sri Lankans work in the Middle East, and remittances remain vital as the country recovers from its 2022 economic collapse.

Colombo has maintained a neutral stance and has repeatedly called for dialogue to end hostilities.

As the US sinks an Iranian warship in a region far from the original battleground, the development signals a broader phase in the conflict, one that could affect not only regional security but also international commerce and diplomacy.