Overview
- U.S. officials say a Navy submarine sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena off southern Sri Lanka in international waters, with Sri Lankan teams recovering about 87 bodies and rescuing roughly 32 sailors.
- Sri Lanka says the replenishment ship IRIS Bushehr sought refuge near its coast; authorities evacuated about 208 crew members, assumed control of the ship and are relocating it to Trincomalee.
- Officials cited a reported engine failure on the Bushehr and framed the operation as assistance under international maritime rescue obligations.
- The Indian Navy said it launched aircraft and deployed ships to bolster Sri Lanka’s search-and-rescue after receiving the Dena’s distress call.
- Iran condemned the sinking and warned of consequences, while Reuters-cited reporting says the U.S. urged Sri Lanka not to repatriate survivors from the Dena or the Bushehr’s crew.