US Sinks Sri Lankan Vessel Carrying Crew from Second Iranian Ship

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Sri Lanka Evacuates Crew from Iranian Naval Vessel

More than 200 crew members have been evacuated from an Iranian naval vessel off Sri Lanka’s coast, following the sinking of another Iranian ship by a US submarine. The incident occurred just one day after the sinking of an Iranian frigate, resulting in the deaths of 87 sailors.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced that his navy will take custody of the second ship and transport it to the northeastern port of Trincomalee for safekeeping. This decision was made amid concerns about potential targeting of the vessel.

According to Sri Lankan officials, 32 people were rescued from the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Dena, which sank on Wednesday. An estimated 180 people were believed to be on board, with 87 bodies recovered and 10 sailors still missing.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that a US submarine sank the IRIS Dena, an Iranian frigate returning from a peacetime naval exercise hosted by India. The incident occurred approximately 44 nautical miles off Sri Lanka’s southern coast.

The US has released footage of a Mark 48 torpedo hitting the frigate’s stern, which was struck without warning. Iranian officials have expressed outrage over the attack, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi calling it an “atrocity at sea”.

The incident is part of a larger conflict between Iran and its allies, including the United States and Israel. The US has launched coordinated strikes on Iran, targeting the country’s leadership, missile arsenals, and nuclear infrastructure.

As of Tuesday, no Iranian warships were reported to be operational in the Gulf or Strait of Hormuz. The UN has reported that more than 1,000 people have been killed in the conflict, with over 100,000 displaced from Tehran.

Source: Al Jazeera