Washington, March 4 (SANA) United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced on Wednesday that a US submarine was responsible for the sinking of an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Sri Lanka.
In a statement published on “X”, Hegseth detailed the operation: “A US submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean. They thought they were safe in international waters, but they were sent to the bottom by a torpedo.”
Hegseth characterized the strike as ” Quiet Death,” noting the historical significance of the engagement. He emphasized that this marks the first time a US submarine has sunk an enemy vessel using a torpedo since World War II. “Just as in that war, we are fighting with the goal of victory,” Hegseth added, signaling a hardline shift in US naval engagement rules.
Earlier today, Sri Lankan authorities reported the sinking of the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena. Official sources in Colombo confirmed that 140 personnel are either dead or missing following the vessel’s disappearance. The Sri Lankan Navy has deployed two ships and an aircraft to the area to conduct search and rescue operations for any potential survivors.
This major naval escalation occurs against the backdrop of intensifying regional conflicts, marking a significant transition from aerial strikes to direct submarine warfare in international shipping lanes.
