87 Dead as U.S. Submarine Sinks Iranian Warship as crisis spread across global waters

By Chisom Adaeze Okafor

The ongoing war between Iran, Israel, and the United States has escalated into deadly naval confrontations after reports confirmed the sinking of an Iranian warship in international waters.

According to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, an American submarine deployed a torpedo attack that struck and sank an Iranian naval vessel that allegedly believed it was operating safely in international waters.

Hegseth described the operation as “quiet death,” stating that it marked the first time since World War II that the United States used a torpedo to sink an enemy ship in active combat.

“Like in that war, we are fighting to win,” he told reporters in Washington D.C., highlighting the intensity of the ongoing military campaign.

The attack reportedly targeted the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena, which had earlier participated in a military exercise in the eastern Indian port of Visakhapatnam. The vessel was later travelling in waters approximately 40 kilometres south of Galle when it was struck.

Maritime rescue authorities in Sri Lanka responded after the warship issued a distress call at dawn. However, by the time a rescue vessel arrived within about one hour, the ship had already sunk, leaving only an oil patch on the ocean surface as evidence of the attack.

Sri Lankan naval officials confirmed that 87 sailors were recovered dead from the waters near Galle, while 61 others remained missing at the time of reporting. Search and rescue operations continued under the coordination of the Sri Lanka Navy.

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said that at least 32 wounded sailors were rescued earlier from the damaged Iranian frigate and were receiving medical treatment in hospitals around Galle.

Local authorities increased security presence around the hospital facility where injured Iranian personnel were admitted, though military footage of the rescue operation was not released because the incident involved the armed forces of another country.

The Sri Lanka Air Force and naval authorities said the rescue operation was conducted in accordance with international maritime search and rescue obligations within Sri Lanka’s designated Indian Ocean responsibility zone.

Sri Lanka maintained a neutral diplomatic position throughout the crisis, repeatedly calling for dialogue between conflicting parties. The country’s foreign ministry noted that stability in global shipping lanes is important for its economy, particularly since more than one million Sri Lankans work in Middle Eastern countries and contribute significantly to national foreign exchange earnings.

Iranian authorities have not issued an official statement regarding the sinking of the warship, and Alireza Delkhosh, Iran’s ambassador in Colombo, was not immediately available for comment.

Security was later strengthened around medical facilities in Galle as wounded Iranian sailors were transported for treatment.

Analysts warn that the expansion of naval warfare into international shipping zones could threaten global trade stability, especially if attacks continue near major maritime corridors.

As the conflict widens, world leaders are urging restraint, warning that continued naval confrontations could push the war beyond regional boundaries.