U.S. Submarine Sinks Iranian Frigate Off Sri Lanka in Historic Torpedo Strike
The IRIS Dena, a Mowj-class frigate with about 180 crew, sank 40 nautical miles south of Galle, Sri Lanka, after a Mk-48 torpedo hit its stern, as shown in Pentagon footage. Sri Lankan navy rescued 32 injured sailors and recovered 87 bodies, with over 100 still missing and at least 80 confirmed dead. The strike happened during Operation Epic Fury amid U.S.-Iran conflict, as the frigate returned from India's MILAN 2026 exercise; U.S. forces claim control of Iranian airspace while India faces risks to its stranded shipping near the Strait of Hormuz.