The Iranian warship IRIS Dena, sunk by a US submarine yesterday off the coast of Sri Lanka, had been a guest of the Indian Navy for naval exercises hosted by India before heading out into international waters in the Indian Ocean on its way home, New Delhi said, reported AP.
The Dena managed to send out a distress signal before going down. The Sri Lankan navy responded and managed to rescue 32 Iranian sailors, but also recovered 87 bodies. The Indian Navy said it also responded to the distress call, but by the time an Indian Navy ship arrived, the rescue operation was complete.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said during his press conference that the sinking illustrates the U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran is stretching beyond its borders and described the IRIS Dena as a “prize ship.”
“The U.S. has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran’s shores,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X, today. “Frigate Dena, a guest of India’s Navy carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck in international waters without warning. Mark my words: The U.S. will come to bitterly regret [the] precedent it has set.”
