COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — A United States Navy submarine sank an Iranian warship off the southern coast of Sri Lanka on Tuesday, March 3, resulting in at least 83 fatalities. The strike, confirmed by the Pentagon, marks the first time a U.S. submarine has destroyed an enemy vessel with a torpedo since World War II, signaling a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Washington and Tehran.
Pentagon Confirms Historic Torpedo Strike
During a press conference at the Pentagon on Wednesday, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth—representing the newly rebranded Department of War—confirmed the engagement. Hegseth stated that a U.S. nuclear-powered submarine deployed a torpedo to neutralize the Iranian vessel during the late hours of Tuesday.
The Department of War released declassified footage of the incident, showing a massive explosion impacting one end of the warship. The vessel is seen jutting upward before rapidly disappearing beneath the surface. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) later identified the target as a Soleimani-class warship, adding it to a list of over 20 Iranian vessels struck or sunk since the commencement of “Operation Epic Fury.”
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Rescue Operations and Casualties
The strike occurred in international waters near Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan Deputy Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath identified the vessel as the Iris Dena, which was reportedly en route to Iran from an undisclosed port.
According to Sri Lankan officials, the timeline of the aftermath was as follows:
- 5:08 a.m. local time: The Sri Lankan Coast Guard received a distress call.
- 7:00 a.m. local time: Two naval vessels reached the site of the strike.
- Recovery: 83 bodies have been recovered from the water; 32 crew members were rescued alive.
Sri Lankan Navy spokesman Commander Buddhika Sampath reported that survivors were found floating in the debris and have since been transported to a hospital in the city of Galle for treatment.
Regional Instability and Rising Death Toll
The sinking of the Iris Dena comes as the human cost of the war continues to mount. The Associated Press reports that total fatalities in Iran have surpassed 1,000 since the U.S. and Israel launched coordinated strikes on February 28.
The conflict, which President Donald Trump stated was initiated due to Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and the suppression of anti-government protesters, has expanded rapidly across the region:
- Lebanon: Over 70 reported dead.
- Israel: Approximately 12 fatalities reported.
- United States: Six service members confirmed killed in action as of March 3.
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Strategic Context: Operation Epic Fury
This maritime strike represents a shift toward aggressive naval interdiction. The use of a submarine-launched torpedo—a tactic largely absent from modern surface warfare—underscores the intensity of the Department of War’s current mandate.
As smoke continues to rise over Tehran following a series of explosions earlier this week, international observers are monitoring the potential for Iranian retaliation in the Strait of Hormuz or against U.S. assets in the Indian Ocean. President Trump has warned that the fighting could continue for weeks, suggesting that the naval blockade and “massive” military actions are far from over.
