U.S. attacks Iranian warship off Sri Lanka coast; 87 dead, many missing

An Iranian naval vessel was attacked by the United States off the coast of Sri Lanka on Tuesday, leaving at least 87 crew members dead and many others missing. The ship, identified as IRIS Dena, had a total of 180 personnel on board at the time of the incident.

According to available reports, 30 crew members have been rescued by the Sri Lankan Navy. However, authorities fear the death toll may rise as search and rescue operations continue in the surrounding waters.

U.S. Claims Warship Was Sunk

The United States Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, has stated that the warship was attacked and sunk by American forces. The vessel was reportedly targeted while it was sailing near Sri Lanka’s coastline.

Sources indicate that the ship was returning after participating in a joint naval exercise in India when it came under attack. Officials have claimed that the vessel was sunk using a torpedo, marking what is being described as the first such incident since the Second World War.

Rescue Operations Underway

Sri Lankan military authorities have deployed multiple naval ships and Air Force aircraft to assist in the ongoing rescue mission. Efforts are focused on locating the missing crew members as concerns grow that the casualty figure could increase further.

Search operations remain active as authorities continue to assess the full scale of the incident.