U.S. Submarine Sinks Iran’s “Prize Ship” IRIS Dena off Sri Lanka

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that an American military submarine torpedoed and sank the IRIS Dena, a premier Iranian Moudge-class frigate, in international waters off the coast of Sri Lanka. During a Pentagon briefing, Hegseth declared that “the Iranian navy rests at the bottom of the Persian Gulf,” marking the first time an enemy vessel has been sunk by a torpedo since World War II. The strike on the “prize ship” is part of a broader campaign that has now reportedly destroyed 17 Iranian naval vessels, effectively clearing the Strait of Hormuz of the Islamic Republic’s fleet.

You May Like To Read: Trade War Threat: Trump Vows to “Cut Off” Spain Over Base Defiance

The humanitarian toll of the maritime strike is severe. Sri Lankan Navy spokesperson Commander Buddhika Sampath confirmed the recovery of 87 bodies from the Indian Ocean, while 32 survivors were rescued from life rafts and oil patches. The survivors are currently receiving emergency treatment in the seaside town of Galle, where security has been tightened around the National Hospital. The IRIS Dena, which once conducted a high-profile international tour to Brazil and South Africa, had 180 personnel on board at the time of the attack.

As the war enters its fifth day, the conflict has rapidly expanded beyond Iran’s borders. In a significant escalation, NATO air defenses were activated for the first time, intercepting an Iranian ballistic missile over the eastern Mediterranean that was headed toward Turkish airspace. Meanwhile, Israel continues its “broad wave” of strikes, reporting the downing of an Iranian fighter jet over Tehran and renewed bombardments in Beirut. With President Trump suggesting the war could last a month, Secretary Hegseth warned that the U.S. will continue “punching them while they’re down” until all threats are neutralized.

Check out our latest video: