A report by Iran International says that an Iranian naval frigate, the IRIS Dena, sank off the coast of Sri Lanka on Wednesday following a submarine attack, leaving more than 100 crew members missing and dozens wounded.
According to the report, the vessel went down approximately 25 miles south of the island after issuing a distress call at dawn. Out of a crew of about 180 sailors, at least 79 were rescued and transported to a hospital in Galle, with one reported in serious condition. Another 101 personnel are believed to be missing.
Sri Lanka’s defense ministry confirmed that a search-and-rescue operation is underway in the area. It remains unclear who carried out the submarine strike. The injured sailors are being treated in southern Sri Lanka as authorities coordinate efforts to locate the missing crew members.
The IRIS Dena, a frigate operated by the Iranian navy, was part of Tehran’s efforts to project naval presence into international waters. Its sinking far from Iranian shores marks a potentially significant escalation in maritime tensions.
