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US Sub Attack Sinks Iranian Warship, 100+ Sailors Dead
15 Apr
Summary
- US submarine attacked and sank Iranian warship IRIS Dena.
- Over 100 Iranian sailors were killed in the attack.
- Survivors were rescued and sent home by Sri Lanka.
An Iranian warship, the IRIS Dena, was sunk by a US submarine in Sri Lankan waters on March 4, resulting in the tragic loss of over 100 sailors. The vessel was returning from a naval exercise in India when it was attacked without warning, setting a new precedent for naval warfare.
Sri Lanka's Navy rescued 32 survivors from the IRIS Dena and recovered 84 deceased sailors. A second Iranian ship, IRINS Bushehr, also returned from India and was permitted to dock in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, where its 206 personnel were disembarked. Both groups of sailors have since returned to Iran.
Sri Lanka provided humanitarian assistance, including 30-day visas and accommodation, to the stranded sailors. The country emphasized its actions were based on international maritime agreements and humanitarian grounds, not military support for any party.
