A United States submarine has sunk the Iranian warship IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth confirmed in a Pentagon briefing on March 4, 2026 The strike marks a significant military development in the ongoing US-Iran conflict.
The Pentagon released video footage of the attack, which occurred in international waters off the coast of Sri Lanka A report suggests a Mark-48 torpedo carrying a 295 kg warhead struck the vessel The attack is the first instance of a US submarine sinking an enemy warship in combat since World War II
The IRIS Dena was returning from the 2026 International Fleet Review at the time of the incident Following the sinking, wounded Iranian sailors were photographed receiving medical treatment at a hospital in Galle, Sri Lanka
During the press briefing, Secretary Hegseth commented on the pace of US military operations, stating, “We are just accelerating, not decelerating,” but did not provide further context for the strike
Mohsin Rana
