US Submarine Sinks Iranian Warship in Indian Ocean, Dozens Reported Dead

A United States Navy submarine has sunk an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean near the coast of Sri Lanka. The incident marks a significant escalation in regional tensions.

During a special defense briefing, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegset confirmed the attack. "A US submarine sank an Iranian warship that considered itself safe in international waters," Hegset stated. "Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo."

The Pentagon chief emphasized the historical significance of the event, calling it "the first sinking of an enemy ship by torpedo since World War II." The US Department of Defense later released video footage on social media platform X purportedly showing the moment the Iranian vessel was struck.

"A US submarine sank an Iranian warship that considered itself safe in international waters. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo."
- US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegset

In a related development, Hegset also announced that American forces had struck Iran's primary combat vessel in the Persian Gulf. The targeted ship is reportedly named IRIS Soleimani, after former Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, who was killed by a US drone strike during Donald Trump's first presidential term. A burning ship was observed near the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas following these strikes.

The initial reports identified the vessel attacked off Sri Lanka as the IRIS Dena. While early information suggested 32 sailors had been rescued, subsequent statements from Sri Lankan authorities paint a far grimmer picture.

A spokesperson for Sri Lanka's Foreign Ministry appeared on national television and stated that at least 80 people were killed as a result of the American strike on the Iranian military ship.