In a dramatic expansion of the ongoing maritime conflict, the IRIS Dena, a Moudge-class frigate of the Iranian Navy, was sunk by a US Navy submarine off the coast of Sri Lanka. US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth confirmed the strike, noting it was the first torpedo kill by an American submarine since World War II.
Speaking from the Department of War, Hegseth stated that the vessel was intercepted in international waters where its crew thought it was safe. While 32 personnel were rescued by Sri Lankan authorities, reports indicate that over 100 sailors remain missing.
.@SECWAR “In the Indian Ocean—an American submarine sunk an Iranian warship, that thought it was safe in international waters. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo—Quiet Death.The first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War 2. Like in that war—back when we were… pic.twitter.com/Y97YQBxQza
— DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) March 4, 2026
Operation Epic Fury Intensifies
The sinking of the Dena is part of the broader Operation Epic Fury, a joint US-Israeli campaign now entering its fifth day. Hegseth also confirmed the destruction of the IRIS Shahid Sayyad Shirazi, a sophisticated Soleimani-class corvette, near Bandar Abbas.
https://t.co/PiqQpVIrMu pic.twitter.com/Wc1e0B0um7
— Department of War 🇺🇸 (@DeptofWar) March 4, 2026
“Last night, we sunk their prize ship. Looks like POTUS got him twice,” Hegseth remarked, referencing the namesake of the vessel class.
🚨HEGSETH: "Last night, we sunk their prize ship, the Soleimani, looks like POTUS got him twice." pic.twitter.com/LIHv6rXJGV
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) March 4, 2026
Regional Impact and Strategy
The conflict is rapidly outgrowing its traditional Middle Eastern theatre. Strategists point to a series of high-stakes incidents:
- Strait of Hormuz: At least ten tankers are currently ablaze.
- Mediterranean Sea: A Russian shadow-fleet LNG tanker was struck by a kamikaze drone boat.
- Indian Ocean: The localised strike near Sri Lanka confirms US reach far beyond the Arabian Gulf.
Trump administration officials claim to have achieved air superiority, reporting that more than 1,000 targets have been neutralised. They maintain that the IRGC’s sea and land capabilities are severely degraded, signalling a decisive victory in the making. However, with scores of sailors missing off the Sri Lankan coast, the humanitarian and diplomatic fallout in South Asia is only beginning to surface.
“They have no navy; it’s been knocked out. They have no air force; it’s been knocked out. They have no air detection; that’s been knocked out,” President Trump said on Tuesday afternoon during a news conference at the White House with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
READ MORE: US Launched Kamikaze Drones Against Iran, Reflecting Lessons Learned From Ukraine
