Iranian warship sinks after 'submarine attack' with more than 100 missing

An Iranian warship off the coast of Galle, Sri Lanka, reported a submarine attack sparking a major rescue mission with more than 100 people missing and 32 rescued

More than 100 people are missing and 32 rescued from an Iranian warship that reported a submarine attack.

Sri Lanka’s navy and air force on Wednesday launched a joint rescue operation after the Iris Dena, ran aground off the southern coast of the island nation near the city of Galle, officials said.

According to a navy spokesperson, the mission focused on evacuating crew members after the vessel issued a distress call reporting it had been hit. Iris Dena is a Moudge-class frigate serving in the Southern Fleet of the Iranian Navy.

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It is understood that at least 180 personnel were on the Iris Dena when it got into trouble. The Iranian warship had taken part in the MILAN 2026 multinational naval exercises held in Visakhapatnam, India.

It is believed that the ship suffered damage below the surface line sparking fears that it had been hit by a torpedo possibly from a torpedo.

A top Sri Lankan official said 32 people have been rescued and admitted to a hospital. Dr Anil Jasinghe says one of them is in critical condition, seven are receiving emergency treatment and others are treated for minor injuries.

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told Parliament that Sri Lanka’s navy received information that the ship IRIS Dena was in distress and that the island nation sent ships and air force planes on a rescue mission.

It comes amid the conflict in the Middle East following American and Israeli missile strikes on Iran and the killing of its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Explosions continue to sound in Tehran on a fifth day of the war after the strikes on an Iranian nuclear site and retaliatory strikes by the Islamic Republic across the Gulf region.

Donald Trump has suggested the conflict could last a month or longer, with nearly 800 people having been killed in Iran, including some the US president said he had considered as possible future leaders of the country.

While there have also been missile in attacks on Lebanon, where Israel said it is retaliating against Hezbollah militants. Lebanon's state-run media reported that at least four people were killed in an Israeli strike that hit a residential complex in the city of Baalbeck.

Israel has struck more than 250 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon over the past 48 hours, an Israeli army spokesperson said today.
Spokesperson Effie Defrin said in a recorded statement that the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah had been launching rockets at Israel overnight. Defrin said Israel would continue to target Hezbollah until "the threat is removed."

He added: "I emphasize: We have no issue with the people of Lebanon. The people of Lebanon are paying the price for the Iranian regime."