Over 100 Iranians are feared dead following a maritime disaster off the coast of Galle, a southern town in Sri Lanka. The United States has claimed that its submarine was responsible for sinking Tehran’s naval ship.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that a U.S. submarine had sunk the Iranian warship IRIS Dena near Sri Lanka, marking an escalation of military activities into the Indian Ocean.
According to sources at the National Hospital in Galle, at least 87 bodies have been recovered, while a Navy spokesperson reported that 32 individuals were rescued during the operation, which took place 40 nautical miles south of Galle.
An FINANCIAL CHRONICLE reporter observed that at least 27 bodies, wrapped in white plastic bags, were transported to the hospital mortuary in a Navy refrigeration truck.
Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath informed the parliament that the Sri Lankan navy received a distress call at 5:08 AM, prompting the deployment of two rescue missions within hours. “We intervened and were able to rescue 30 people,” Herath stated in parliament.
He also noted that the incident occurred outside Sri Lankan territorial waters. Meanwhile, Sri Lankan officials have stated that they are unaware of any attack on the Iranian ship.
(Galle/March 4, 2026)
