The Iranian Navy frigate IRIS Dena sank off the coast of Sri Lanka after a suspected submarine attack amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, reports said on Wednesday.
At least 101 people were missing and 78 were wounded after the submarine attack on an Iranian ship. The ship sank near the island’s territorial waters.
According to reports, the ship was returning from the International Fleet Review 2026 naval exercise held in India. Two weeks before the sinking, the Eastern Naval Command had welcomed the Iranian vessel during its port call at Visakhapatnam.
A spokesman said that the Sri Lankan navy has recovered “a few bodies” of Iranian sailors after what crew members reported as an explosion.
Agencies cited sources in the Sri Lankan Navy, adding that Navy vessels were dispatched after a distress call was received from the Iranian frigate, which reported technical difficulties about 40 nautical miles off the coast of Galle.
According to Al Jazeera, quoting Sri Lanka’s foreign minister, around 30 sailors have been rescued from the frigate, which sank just outside Sri Lanka’s territorial waters. One sailor is in critical condition following rescue, while a total of 32 survivors have been admitted to Karapitiya Hospital in Galle.
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The exact cause of the incident remains unclear, although some reports suggest the vessel may have been attacked.
The IRIS Dena (hull number 75) is a Moudge-class guided-missile frigate of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy, built domestically at Bandar Abbas and commissioned into service in 2021.
Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath confirmed that rescue efforts continue for the approximately 180 sailors who were aboard the ship.
