Dozens of individuals lost their lives following the striking of an Iranian warship by a United States torpedo near the coast of Sri Lanka, extending the conflict beyond Iran’s borders.
According to Sri Lanka’s navy announcement on March 5, 87 bodies were recovered, and 32 individuals were rescued in the aftermath of the attack.
The recent strike marks an escalation of the conflict outside the Middle East, following joint strikes by Israel and the United States on key Iranian sites on February 28. Iran’s retaliatory actions have caused significant panic across the region.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth commented that the vessel, identified as Iran’s “prize ship,” was sunk by an American submarine in the Indian Ocean. This incident is a rare occurrence of a submarine sinking a ship since World War II. President Donald Trump emphasized the objective of eliminating Iran’s navy in the ongoing conflict.
During the course of the war, at least 17 Iranian naval vessels have been sunk.
Hegseth explained at a Pentagon briefing that the Iranian warship was targeted by a torpedo while operating in international waters, assuming safety.
The Iranian warship, equipped with heavy armaments, including guns, missiles, and torpedoes, along with a helicopter, was among Iran’s newest vessels. The ship had been subject to sanctions by the US Treasury Department in February 2023.
Following a distress signal from the IRIS Dena carrying 180 individuals, Sri Lanka’s navy found no trace of the ship upon arrival, only spotting oil patches and life rafts. Survivors were found floating in the water.
Footage released by the US Department of Defense depicted the moment of the torpedo’s impact on the Iranian vessel, leading to its destruction. The rescued individuals were taken to a hospital in Galle, while the recovered bodies were being transported to land.
Reports indicate that one rescued individual is in critical condition, with seven receiving urgent care and others being treated for minor injuries.
Trucks transporting the bodies of Iranian sailors arrived at the National Hospital in Galle, where a temporary mortuary was set up.
