by Our Correspondent in Colombo
The United States has confirmed that it was responsible for the devastating submarine attack that sank the Iranian naval warship IRIS Dena off the southern coast of Sri Lanka, killing more than 100 sailors and triggering a dramatic rescue operation in the early hours of the morning. The admission, exclusively reported by Sri Lanka Guardian, marks the first publicly acknowledged U.S. submarine strike of its kind since World War II and signals a dangerous escalation in already heightened regional tensions.
According to U.S. Defense Secretary (Secretary of War) Pete Hegseth, an American submarine torpedoed and sank the IRIS Dena while the vessel was sailing back to Iran after attending multinational naval exercises in India. The attack reportedly occurred around 4:30 a.m. Colombo time, approximately 40 nautical miles off Galle, outside Sri Lanka’s territorial waters. The warship, carrying about 180 crew members, issued distress calls shortly after the strike before rapidly taking on water and sinking.
Sri Lanka Navy units were immediately dispatched to the scene following the emergency signal. Officials confirmed that nearly 32 crew members were rescued hours after the attack, many of them found clinging to life boats amid scattered debris and oil patches on the surface. “When we went there we saw only a few life boats, a few dead bodies,” a Sri Lankan Navy spokesman told reporters at an afternoon press conference. “When our sailors reached there, we could see only a few oil patches.”
The IRIS Dena, a Moudge-class frigate of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy, had recently participated in the International Fleet Review 2026 and Exercise MILAN in Visakhapatnam, India. The vessel had docked in India before departing on its return voyage to Iran. Security sources indicated that the strike occurred during its transit through the Indian Ocean, raising questions about maritime security guarantees for ships participating in multinational naval exercises hosted in the region.
Earlier reports had described the sinking as a possible underwater attack, with speculation centering on a torpedo strike launched from a submarine. Neither Iranian nor Sri Lankan authorities initially confirmed the cause of the explosion. However, the U.S. acknowledgment now removes ambiguity surrounding the incident and places Washington at the center of a rapidly intensifying geopolitical crisis.
The attack comes amid broader tensions linked to the ongoing Iran conflict, amplifying concerns over freedom of navigation and military escalation in one of the world’s most strategically vital waterways. The Indian Ocean serves as a critical artery for global trade and energy supplies, and any expansion of hostilities there could have far-reaching economic and security consequences.
Sri Lankan authorities emphasized that the stricken vessel was outside national waters but reiterated that humanitarian assistance was provided immediately. Search and rescue operations continued throughout the day, supported by naval ships and aircraft, as officials worked to determine the final casualty count.
The confirmed destruction of a frontline Iranian frigate by a U.S. submarine represents a historic and highly provocative military development. With more than 140 sailors feared dead and diplomatic tensions surging, the incident is expected to draw intense international scrutiny and could mark a turning point in the evolving balance of power across the Indian Ocean region.
