Iranian Warship Sinks Off Sri Lanka; 30 Sailors Rescued, Scores Missing

International Desk, Rtv News

Publish : 04 Mar 2026, 04:39 PM

Photo: Collected

The Sri Lanka Navy has rescued at least 30 Iranian sailors after their warship began sinking in the Indian Ocean near Sri Lankan waters. The incident was confirmed by Sri Lankan military officials on Wednesday (March 4).

Distress Call and Rapid Response
According to a spokesperson for the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defense, the navy dispatched rescue teams immediately after receiving an emergency distress signal from the vessel. Despite challenging conditions, rescuers managed to pull 30 crew members from the water.

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath informed Parliament that the injured sailors have been transported to a hospital in the southern region of the island (Karapitiya Teaching Hospital in Galle) for treatment. The ship was reportedly carrying a total of 180 crew members, leaving a significant number of personnel still missing.

Vessel Identified as IRIS Dena
The distressed vessel has been identified as the IRIS Dena, a sophisticated Moudge-class frigate of the Iranian Navy. Local reports and defense analysts indicate that the ship encountered trouble while positioned near the coastal city of Galle and issued an urgent call for assistance at dawn.

While Sri Lankan authorities have not officially confirmed the cause of the sinking, the incident occurs amidst heightened military tensions in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean regions.

Investigation and Regional Context
Iranian state media has yet to issue a formal statement regarding the cause of the disaster. While some international military experts suggest a potential technical failure, others have not ruled out the possibility of sabotage or an external attack, given the current geopolitical climate.

Search Operations: A joint operation involving the Sri Lanka Navy and Air Force is ongoing to locate the remaining missing crew members.

Current Status: It remains unclear whether the frigate has completely submerged or if salvage operations are possible.

This incident comes on the heels of reported U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iranian targets earlier this week, leading to speculation regarding the ship's fate.
Source: The Guardian

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