US Sinks Warship; Iran Vows Revenge
An Iranian warship, the IRIS Dena, was sunk by a US submarine torpedo attack off the coast of Sri Lanka in international waters in the Indian Ocean on Wednesday, 4 March 2026. At least 87 crew members were killed, with bodies evacuated by the Sri Lankan Navy. Sixty-one sailors are missing and 32 were rescued by Colombo. Sri Lanka Navy spokesperson Buddhika Sampath said the Iranian warship sent an emergency signal at dawn, but had sunk completely when rescue ships reached the area about an hour later, leaving an oil slick on the surface. In a statement carried by Iranian state media, Press TV, on Friday 6 March 2026, the Iranian military described the incident as a ‘cowardly attack’ and said the warship was attacked in waters nearly 2,000 miles (3,218 kilometres) from Iran, while on a training mission. The cadets aboard the vessel had just taken part in the multinational naval exercise ‘Milan 2026’, which is a peacekeeping exercise in India. The attack occurred as the ship was returning to Iran.
The Iranian military condemned the United States Navy for striking the vessel without warning, noting that the strike took place hundreds of miles away from active combat zones and violated international maritime norms and humanitarian law.
“The cowardly attack on the destroyer Dena, about 2,000 miles from the battlefield, which resulted in the deaths of the young cadets returning from the Milan 2026 peace exercise, shows that global arrogance does not respect any international rules,” the Iranian military said in its condemnation.
The Iranian military added that the attack again demonstrates the United States’ disregard for international rules governing maritime conduct and armed conflict. The Iranian military warned that the deaths of the young cadets would strengthen their determination to seek vengeance. “The martyrdom of those beloved youths will only strengthen the resolve of the great Iranian nation and the defenders of Islam to avenge their blood,” the Iranian military stated.