The Pentagon has released footage of a US strike on the Iranian warship Iris Dena off the southern coast of Sri Lanka, which defence secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed was carried out by a submarine. More than 80 people were killed in the attack, marking the first US assault on Iranian forces outside the Middle East.
Hegseth initially claimed the sinking was the first torpedo attack on an enemy ship since World War II, but BBC Verify noted that Pakistani and British submarines had torpedoed enemy vessels in 1971 and 1982 respectively. General Dan Caine, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, later clarified that it was the first time since 1945 that an American submarine had sunk an enemy combatant ship.
Sri Lankan deputy foreign minister Arun Hemachandra confirmed at least 80 deaths, while foreign minister Vijitha Herath said 180 people were aboard the Iris Dena when it issued a distress call about 25 miles south of Galle. A search and rescue mission is underway for other survivors.
The Iranian ship had participated in the 'Milan' naval exercise hosted by India in the Bay of Bengal from 18 to 25 February, and was returning from an east Indian port when attacked.
