An American submarine has attacked and sunk the Iranian warship IRIS Dena near the Sri Lankan coast in the Indian Ocean. 87 Iranian sailors have been killed in this attack, while many other soldiers are still reported missing. Iran’s military leadership has described the incident as a war crime and warned the US that the attack will be met with deadly retaliation. International rescue teams reached the spot and rescued 32 survivors.
How and where did this horrific attack happen?
The incident occurred on March 4, 2026 at approximately 05:08 am in international waters about 35-40 km off the Galle coast of Sri Lanka. The US Navy’s Los Angeles-class submarine USS Charlotte fired two Mark 48 torpedoes at the Iranian frigate. One of these torpedoes hit the ship accurately, causing IRIS Dena to sink into the sea within just 2 to 3 minutes. There were between 136 and 180 crew members on board the ship at that time.
Important information and statistics related to the incident
The Sri Lankan Navy and Air Force were the first to launch a rescue operation as soon as the distress message was received. Later the Indian Navy also sent its P-8I maritime patrol aircraft and ships to help. The current status of the incident is as follows:
Details Figures/Information Confirmed deaths 87 Naval survivors 32 Naval personnel missing 20 to 61 Place of treatment Karapitiya Hospital, Galle Attack submarine USS Charlotte (USA)
Official statement of Iran and America
Iran’s army chief Major General Aamir Hatami has said that there will be a response to the killing of the sailors. He insisted that the ship was returning from a peaceful mission and that the attack was a pure provocation. On the other hand, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has described the attack as an action against a legitimate military target. Iran has accused the US of violating the Geneva Conventions and said the incident has made the security situation in the Indian Ocean more tense.