Iranian Ship Sunk Near Sri Lanka By US, Had Recently Visited India

India-West News Desk

NEW DELHI -At least 87 people were killed after a United States submarine struck and sank an Iranian naval vessel in the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka’s southern coast, according to Sri Lankan officials and the U.S. defense chief.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed on March 4 that an American submarine carried out the strike.

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told parliament that the Moudge-class frigate IRIS Dena had about 180 people aboard when it issued a distress call before sinking roughly 40 nautical miles from the island. Authorities said 32 survivors were pulled from the sea and taken to a government hospital in the southern port city of Galle, while several bodies were also recovered as search operations continued.

The frigate had recently been in India to participate in the International Fleet Review 2026 and the MILAN 2026 naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal between Feb. 18 and Feb. 25 before beginning its return voyage. India’s Eastern Naval Command had welcomed the vessel during a port call at Visakhapatnam two weeks before the sinking. In a post on X, the command said the visit reflected long-standing cultural links between the two nations.