World News
US Submarine Sinks Iranian Warship Returning From India’s MILAN Exercise, 87 Feared Dead
At least 87 people are feared dead after a United States submarine reportedly sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean shortly after it departed from India following a major multinational naval exercise.
At least 87 people are feared dead after a United States submarine reportedly sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean shortly after it departed from India following a major multinational naval exercise.
According to reports from AFP, the vessel identified as IRIS Dena, an Iranian Moudge-class frigate, had recently taken part in the MILAN 2026 naval exercise hosted by India before beginning its return journey to Iran.
Attack Reported in International Waters
The incident reportedly occurred in international waters near Sri Lanka, where the Iranian warship was struck by a torpedo fired from a US submarine.
While Washington has not officially confirmed the exact number of casualties, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged the strike during a media briefing.
“An American submarine sank an Iranian warship that believed it was safe in international waters. Instead, it was destroyed by a torpedo,” he said.
The statement has intensified global attention on the incident, raising fresh concerns about escalating tensions between the United States and Iran.
Rare Submarine Footage Released
In a highly unusual move, the US Department of War released a black-and-white video clip that appeared to show the view from a submarine periscope moments before a distant explosion.
Military experts say it is extremely rare for any country to release near real-time visuals of a submarine strike, highlighting how modern warfare and information sharing are rapidly evolving.
Defence analysts believe the Iranian frigate may never have detected the submarine, even when it surfaced at periscope depth — a sign of the advanced stealth capabilities used in modern naval operations.
Warship Had Recently Visited India
The IRIS Dena had arrived in India earlier this year to participate in MILAN 2026, one of the largest multilateral naval exercises in the Indo-Pacific region.
According to the Indian Navy, the exercise aims to improve:
- Maritime cooperation between nations
- Interoperability of naval forces
- Maritime domain awareness
- Collective response to regional threats
The drills included anti-submarine warfare, air defence operations, and search-and-rescue missions.
The Iranian warship had also visited India in 2024 for a previous edition of the same exercise.
Search and Rescue Operations Underway
Officials from the Sri Lankan Navy confirmed that 87 bodies have been recovered so far, while dozens of sailors remain missing.
Authorities said 32 survivors have been rescued, and search operations are continuing in waters off Sri Lanka’s coast.
Rescue teams are working against time as they scan the ocean for any remaining survivors from the sinking frigate.
Questions Over Whether the Warship Was Being Tracked
Defence analysts believe the US submarine may have been tracking the Iranian vessel for days or even weeks.
Naval forces often conduct passive surveillance of foreign warships during international deployments to gather intelligence on their movement and capabilities.
However, it remains unclear when the submarine began monitoring the Iranian ship — whether during its journey to India or after it left the MILAN exercise.
