COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — March 4, 2026 : The Iranian Navy frigate IRIS Dena sank early Wednesday in the Indian Ocean following a reported torpedo strike by a United States submarine, with large-scale search and rescue operations underway for missing crew members. The incident occurred roughly 40 nautical miles south of Sri Lanka, just outside the country's territorial waters near the southern coast.
Sri Lankan authorities confirmed that naval and air assets were deployed after the vessel transmitted a distress signal at approximately 5:00 a.m. local time, reporting an explosion and rapid flooding aboard the ship.
Distress Call and Rescue Efforts
The distress alert prompted an immediate response from Sri Lanka’s maritime authorities.
According to the Sri Lanka Navy, two naval rescue vessels were dispatched by 7:00 a.m., supported by aircraft from the Sri Lanka Air Force. Search operations have focused on waters south of Galle, where debris and oil slicks were detected near the reported sinking site.
Sri Lankan Coast Guard and Navy personnel have so far rescued 32 severely injured sailors, who were pulled from the water and transported to Karapitiya Teaching Hospital in Galle, a major state-run medical facility in southern Sri Lanka. Hospital officials said several of the rescued sailors remain in critical condition.
Officials estimate the vessel carried approximately 180 crew members at the time of the incident. As of Wednesday evening, 148 sailors remain missing, and recovery teams have reported locating debris from the ship along with several bodies near the submerged wreck.
Sri Lankan Navy spokesperson Buddhika Sampath confirmed that maritime patrol units, divers, and aerial surveillance aircraft continue to search the area.
Government Response in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath addressed Parliament on Wednesday, stating that the government initiated the rescue operation under international maritime obligations to assist vessels in distress.
The minister noted that the sinking occurred in international waters, but Sri Lanka responded due to the proximity of the incident to its southern coastline. Authorities in Colombo have emphasized that their role remains focused on humanitarian search-and-rescue activities and have declined to release any military-related information about the strike.
U.S. Confirmation of Strike
The United States government confirmed that the Iranian warship was struck during a military operation.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged that an American submarine carried out the torpedo strike against the vessel. Pentagon officials did not disclose which submarine was involved or provide further operational details.
U.S. officials described the action as a targeted military strike connected to ongoing tensions involving Iranian naval activity and broader regional security concerns.
Background of the Vessel
IRIS Dena was a Moudge-class (Mowj-class) frigate of the Iranian Navy, commissioned in 2021 as part of Iran’s domestically produced surface combatant program.
The ship displaced approximately 1,500 tons and was equipped with a range of naval weapons systems including:
- Anti-ship missiles
- Naval torpedoes
- Air defense systems
- Radar and electronic warfare equipment
The frigate formed part of Iran’s efforts to expand its blue-water naval capabilities, enabling longer deployments beyond the Persian Gulf.
Recent Activities Before the Incident
At the time of the sinking, IRIS Dena was returning to Iran after participating in international naval events in India.
The vessel had recently visited Visakhapatnam, where it took part in the International Fleet Review and the multinational naval exercise MILAN 2026 organized by the Indian Navy. The exercise involved participation from more than 50 countries and focused on maritime security cooperation, anti-piracy operations, and humanitarian assistance drills.
Following the completion of the exercise in late February and early March, the Iranian frigate departed Indian waters and began its transit westward across the Indian Ocean toward Iran when the strike occurred overnight between March 3 and March 4.
Iranian Reaction
Iranian officials confirmed the loss of the warship and acknowledged casualties among the crew.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement expressing condolences to the families of the sailors and calling for an international investigation into the incident. Iranian authorities stated that the vessel was conducting routine transit operations when it was struck.
No immediate information was released by Iranian naval officials regarding potential military responses.
Regional Monitoring
Sri Lankan naval and air assets remain engaged in search operations off the southern coast, with additional monitoring support reportedly provided by regional maritime patrol aircraft, including surveillance flights observing the search area.
Defense officials in the region are also assessing the broader implications of the incident for Indian Ocean maritime security, an area that serves as one of the world’s most critical shipping corridors.
Ongoing Search Operations
Rescue teams continue to search the waters south of Galle for survivors among the 148 missing crew members. Divers and maritime patrol aircraft are scanning the debris field while naval vessels maintain a perimeter around the reported sinking location.
Authorities indicated that search operations are expected to continue into Thursday, depending on weather and sea conditions, as efforts continue to locate additional survivors and assess the full extent of casualties from the sinking of the Iranian frigate.
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