Five of the Most Read International News Stories Today

An Iranian warship, IRIS Dena, sank off the coast of Sri Lanka on Wednesday, 4 March local time after being struck by a torpedo fired from a United States submarine. Iran declared that Washington would “deeply regret” its actions. At least 87 Iranian personnel were killed, with 61 missing. About 32 Iranians were rescued by the Sri Lankan Navy, most of whom were injured. The incident occurred as a conflict triggered by joint US and Israel strikes since the weekend continues to spread across the Middle East.

In addition to the above, these are the international news items which have attracted readers’ attention today, Thursday (5 March 2026):

• The death toll in Iran has risen to 867 as a result of US-Israel strikes. Iranian authorities report more than 800 killed since Saturday (28 February) in strikes by Washington and Tel Aviv.

• Iran’s missiles head towards Turkish air space; Turkey protests and sends a message to Tehran. Turkish authorities summoned the Iranian ambassador to protest the incident, which involved missiles fired from Tehran toward Turkish airspace before being intercepted by NATO air defences. Turkey, a NATO member, urged Tehran to avoid widening the conflict.

• Qatar rejects Iran’s claim that its attacks were aimed only at the United States, not Doha. Qatar states that several attacks hit civilian areas and residential zones.

• Iranian warship IRIS Dena sinks after being struck by an American torpedo: 87 dead, 61 missing. The vessel sank off the coast of Sri Lanka; approximately 32 more Iranians were rescued by the Sri Lankan Navy, with most injured.

• Iran’s warning after ship sinks: “The US will deeply regret it.” Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, told AFP that Washington carried out an act in international waters without warning and warned of the precedent being set by the strike on the Iranian warship.