Iran Vows "Severe Price" After US Sinks Warship Near Sri Lanka
The vessel was struck by a single Mark 48 torpedo on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, while transiting international waters off the southern coast of Sri Lanka. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the strike during a Pentagon briefing, describing it as a "quiet death" and the first time an American submarine has sunk an enemy combatant since World War II.
The IRIS Dena was returning from Visakhapatnam, India, after participating in the MILAN 2024 multilateral naval exercise. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the attack as an "atrocity at sea," noting that the ship was a "guest of the Indian Navy" and was carrying approximately 180 crew members at the time. In a post on X, Araghchi warned that the United States would "bitterly regret the precedent it has set" and asserted that Tehran would ensure Washington pays a "heavy price" for the unprovoked strike.
Casualties and Rescue Efforts: The Sri Lankan Navy responded to a distress signal early Wednesday morning but found only an oil slick upon arrival. According to Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, rescue teams managed to save 32 sailors, while 87 bodies have been recovered and brought to the Karapitiya Hospital in Galle. Approximately 61 personnel remain missing as search operations continue.
Strategic Escalation: This incident marks a significant expansion of Operation Epic Fury, as it is the first time U.S. forces have targeted Iranian assets outside the Middle East since the conflict began on February 28. General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated that the mission aims to systematically destroy the Iranian Navy to ensure it can no longer project power or threaten international shipping. In retaliation for the sinking, the IRGC claimed to have targeted a U.S. tanker in the northern Persian Gulf on Thursday morning, further heightening fears of a total maritime blockade.
