US Submarine Sinks Iranian Warship IRIS Dena Near Sri Lanka, Raising Regional Tensions

On March 4, a US submarine torpedoed and sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in international waters near Sri Lanka, marking the first US submarine sinking of an enemy ship by torpedo since World War II. The vessel had recently participated in India's MILAN 2026 naval exercise. At least 80 sailors died, with dozens rescued by Sri Lankan authorities. Iran condemned the attack as an "atrocity at sea" and warned of repercussions. The incident has raised strategic and diplomatic concerns for India, given the ship's recent presence in its maritime neighborhood and the broader US-Iran-Israel conflict escalation.