In a developing military incident, at least 80 people have been reported killed after a US submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, according to Reuters.
The Iranian vessel, IRIS Dena, was en route from India following its participation in the 2026 International Fleet Review in Visakhapatnam when it was reportedly attacked and subsequently sank off Sri Lanka’s southern coast.
While the United States has not officially confirmed the casualty figures, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged the strike, emphasizing its significance in demonstrating America’s global military reach in its ongoing confrontation with Iran.
“An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that believed it was safe in international waters. Instead, it was struck by a torpedo,” Hegseth stated to reporters.
Iran Loses Significant Naval Asset
The IRIS Dena, one of Iran’s newest warships, was heavily armed with surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles, torpedoes, and heavy guns, and was equipped with a helicopter. The vessel had been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in February 2023, alongside eight executives of an Iranian drone manufacturer accused of supplying weapons to Russia for use against Ukraine.
This incident marks the loss of at least 17 Iranian naval vessels during the ongoing conflict, according to U.S. Central Command leader Admiral Brad Cooper.
Details of the Sinking
Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, confirmed that the US Navy’s fast-attack submarine employed “a single Mark 48 torpedo” to sink the Iranian warship. An anonymous U.S. official also identified the vessel as the IRIS Dena.
The operation underscores how U.S. military efforts against Iran extend far beyond Iran’s borders. Former President Donald Trump has previously stated that one of the primary objectives of the U.S. campaign is to neutralize Iran’s naval capabilities.
