U.S. Department of Defense releases video of submarine strike on Iranian warship off Sri Lankan coast

U.S. Department of Defense releases video of submarine strike on Iranian warship off Sri Lankan coast
Reuters

The U.S. Department of Defense has released a video of a submarine strike on an Iranian warship off the southern Sri Lankan coast. At least 80 people died in the U.S. attack on the vessel, Sri Lanka's Deputy Foreign Minister said. 

Sri Lankan naval crews launched a search and rescue operation on Wednesday (4 March) after receiving a distress call from the vessel, which later sank in waters south of the island.

Navy spokesman Commander Buddhika Sampath said 32 people had been pulled from the sea and taken to hospital in the southern port city of Galle.

Reuters
 
 
 
 
An injured person moves on a wheelchair at the National Hospital Galle where he will receive treatment after a submarine attack on the Iranian military ship, Iris Dena, off Sri Lanka, in Galle, Sri Lanka, March 4, 2026.
Reuters

“We are hopeful we can rescue more people and will continue operations until we are sure,” Sampath told reporters.

Earlier, Sri Lanka’s foreign minister Vijitha Herath told parliament that 180 people had been on board the ship, identified as the IRIS Dena.

Sri Lankan authorities said bodies had also been recovered from the water as the search continued.

Sampath said the incident occurred outside Sri Lankan territorial waters but that Colombo had moved quickly to assist after receiving the distress signal.

The U.S. later confirmed that the vessel had been destroyed by an American submarine. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the attack was carried out as part of Washington’s ongoing conflict with Iran.

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