(Image source from: en.haberler.com)
According to AFP, at least 87 individuals died after a U.S. submarine destroyed an Iranian warship, the IRIS Dena, in the Indian Ocean today. Just weeks prior, this same warship, a Moudge class frigate, had taken part in a naval exercise in India. The IRIS Dena also visited India in 2024 for the MILAN multilateral naval exercise, and it was sailing home from the 2026 version of that exercise today when the U.S. submarine attacked it. Although the U.S. has not verified the death toll, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the submarine attack, presenting it as proof of America's worldwide influence in its conflict with Iran. Hegseth told reporters, "An American submarine sank an Iranian warship that believed it was secure in international waters. Instead, a torpedo sank it."
The U.S. Department of War published a black and white video that appeared to show a submarine periscope and a distant explosion. It is highly unusual for any military to release visuals of a submarine sinking so quickly after the event. This demonstrates how warfare and information sharing have drastically changed.
This demonstrated the American submarine's impressive tactical abilities. On February 16, the Indian Navy announced that MILAN 2026, a major international naval exercise in the Indo-Pacific, would gather navies from around the world. Its purpose is to improve how they work together, understand the seas, and respond as a group. During the exercise, both in port and at sea, there was a focus on difficult naval activities like finding and attacking submarines, defending against air attacks, and conducting search and rescue operations.
It's unclear if the American submarine was following or watching the Iranian warship that traveled to India for MILAN 2026. Experts in defense have suggested that the US submarine might have been tracking the Iranian warship from Iran to India for the exercise. Navies often secretly follow other ships to gather information. A Sri Lankan Navy representative stated that 87 bodies have been recovered, and the search continues for those still missing. Sri Lanka is currently assisting 32 survivors, with 61 sailors still unaccounted for, according to authorities, after the frigate IRIS Dena sank near its coast. Hegseth described the attack as a "silent death" and the first time a US torpedo sank an enemy ship since World War II. He added, "Just like in that war, we are fighting to win." The Pentagon declared that a primary goal of the US-Israeli conflict against Iran, which began Saturday, is to eliminate Iran's navy.
