US Torpedoes Iranian Warship Returning from India; 87 Killed

A United States submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, killing at least 87 people, according to AFP. The ship, IRIS Dena, had recently taken part in a naval exercise in India before it started its return journey to Iran.

The IRIS Dena, a Moudge-class frigate of the Iranian Navy, earlier visited India in 2024 for the multinational naval exercise MILAN. The ship also joined the MILAN 2026 edition. After the exercise ended, the vessel began sailing back toward Iran. During the journey, a US submarine launched a torpedo and hit the warship in international waters.

The United States has not confirmed the exact number of deaths. However, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that a US submarine carried out the strike. He described the attack as proof of America’s global military power during the ongoing tensions with Iran.

Speaking to reporters, Hegseth said the Iranian ship believed it was safe while sailing in international waters. However, the US submarine tracked the vessel and destroyed it with a torpedo.

The US Department of War later released a short black-and-white video of the strike. The footage appeared to come from a submarine periscope. It showed a distant explosion at sea, which officials said was the moment the torpedo hit the Iranian warship.

Military analysts said such footage is rarely shared with the public, especially soon after a naval strike. Experts believe the release shows how modern warfare and information sharing have changed in recent years.

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The release of near real-time visuals has highlighted how modern warfare and information sharing have evolved. Governments now use rapid communication and media releases to shape public understanding of military operations. The incident has also added to rising tensions in the region, as global attention focuses on the growing confrontation between the United States and Iran.

US Strike Triggers Search for Survivors

Rescue teams continued searching for missing sailors after a US submarine sank the Iranian warship IRIS Dena near Sri Lanka. Authorities recovered 87 bodies and rescued 32 survivors, while 61 crew members remain missing. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth described the attack as a “quiet death” and said it marked the first time since World War II that the US Navy had sunk an enemy ship using a torpedo. The Pentagon stated that weakening Iran’s naval power remains a key objective of the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran.

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