US Submarine Sinks Iranian Warship: First Torpedo Strike Since WWII Marks Massive Escalation

COLOMBO / WASHINGTON — In a dramatic escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed on March 2 that an American submarine utilized a heavyweight torpedo to sink the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean. The Pentagon has described the vessel as a “prize ship,” noting that this marks the first time the United States has used a torpedo to sink an enemy vessel since the Second World War.

The strike, which occurred Tuesday night as the Dena was returning from military exercises in India, has resulted in a mounting humanitarian crisis and a diplomatic firestorm.

The Strike and the Rescue Effort

The Pentagon released black-and-white footage of the engagement, showing the torpedo impacting the frigate. Secretary Hegseth characterized the attack as “a quiet death.” However, the aftermath has been anything but quiet.

The Sri Lankan Navy responded to a distress call in the early hours of Wednesday, arriving to find only an oil slick and survivors clinging to life rafts.

• Casualties: At least 84 sailors are confirmed dead.
• Rescued: 32 survivors are currently being treated at a hospital in Galle for burns and fractures.
• Missing: Approximately 140 people remain unaccounted for.

Local witnesses in Galle described a grim scene as bodies were brought ashore, with hospital staff reportedly rushing to set up refrigerated shipping containers to handle the overflow from the local morgue.

Sri Lanka Maintains Neutrality Amid Tension

On Thursday, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake confirmed that his navy had also intervened to assist a second Iranian vessel, the support ship IRIS Bushehr. The ship made an emergency request to dock at the port of Trincomalee, citing engine issues.

Amid fears that the Bushehr could be the next target, Dissanayake emphasized Sri Lanka’s neutral stance:

“We are not taking sides in this conflict, but while maintaining our neutrality we are taking action to save lives. No person should die in a war like this.”

Global Reactions and Regional Fallout

The sinking has triggered a furious response from Tehran. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the U.S. would “bitterly regret” the “atrocity at sea,” noting the ship was struck in international waters 2,000 miles from Iran’s shores.

The incident is part of a broader, rapidly expanding conflict:

• Ground Operations: Reports from Iraq’s Kurdistan region suggest the U.S. may back Kurdish armed groups for a ground operation into Iranian territory.
• Internal Unrest: Verification of video footage from Tehran suggests significant attacks are occurring inside Iran, as the nation simultaneously grapples with a leadership transition to succeed the Supreme Leader.