Mystery as Iranian Warship Sinks off Sri Lanka, Over 100 Feared Missing

Mystery as Iranian Warship Sinks off Sri Lanka, Over 100 Feared Missing

An Iranian warship has sunk off the coast of Sri Lanka, triggering a major search and rescue operation after authorities confirmed that 32 people were rescued while several bodies were recovered from the sea.

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister, Vijitha Herath, told parliament on Wednesday that the vessel, identified as IRIS Dena, went down in waters off the island nation.

Initial reports from sources within the Sri Lanka Navy and the defence ministry suggested the ship may have been attacked by a submarine, with at least 101 people unaccounted for following the incident in the Indian Ocean.

However, a navy spokesman dismissed the claim that over 100 people were missing, describing the figure as inaccurate. He also rejected speculation about the cause of the sinking, saying investigations were still ongoing.

The rescued sailors, who sustained injuries during the incident, are receiving treatment at a state-run hospital in the southern port city of Galle.

According to naval authorities, a distress call was received from the Iranian vessel, prompting a swift joint rescue effort by the navy and the Sri Lanka Air Force. Search operations were immediately launched in the affected area of the Indian Ocean.

While defence sources hinted at a possible underwater attack, officials stressed that the exact circumstances surrounding the sinking remain unclear, and no group or country has been identified as responsible.

The incident has raised fresh security concerns in the strategically sensitive Indian Ocean region, as authorities continue efforts to account for all crew members and determine what led to the vessel’s sudden loss.