Sri Lanka’s navy recovered 87 bodies and rescued 32 people after a U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship in international waters near the island.

On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed that an American submarine sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka. This is the first time the U.S. has sunk an enemy ship with a torpedo since World War II.An American submarine sank an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo,” Hegseth told reporters at a press briefing. The U.S. Secretary of Defense called the attack a “quiet death.” He noted that it was the first time the US had sunk an enemy ship with a torpedo since World War II. He added: "As in that war, we are fighting to win."

The moment the torpedo exploded upon slamming into the ship. 

On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of War released declassified footage showing the moment the torpedo exploded upon slamming into the ship. The explosion lifted part of the Iranian vessel out of the water. Sources in Sri Lanka’s navy and defense ministry told Reuters that the attack left at least 101 people missing, one person dead, and 78 people injured. The IRIS Dena frigate was armed with heavy guns, surface-to-air and anti-ship missiles, and torpedoes. It could also carry a helicopter

Rescued 32 people 

The Sri Lankan authorities said they rescued 32 people who were on board the ship and recovered several bodies from the sea. Many more are believed to be missing. The warship, which was believed to be returning to Iran after participating in a joint military exercise off the coast of India, was equipped with heavy guns, surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles, and torpedoes, as well as the capacity to carry a helicopter.

The incident marks the latest escalation in the conflict

The incident marks the latest escalation in the conflict in the Middle East, which began with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Saturday. It follows Israel's launch of a new wave of attacks against Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon on Wednesday morning.The IRIS Dena's sinking represents the farthest extension of the war, reaching deep into the Indian Ocean, about 2,500 nautical miles from the Strait of Hormuz.

This is the first time in nearly 50 years 

Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan foreign minister stated that the nation's navy initiated rescue operations at 6 a.m. local time in response to a distress call received from the ship at 12:30 a.m. UK time. This is the first time in nearly 50 years that a submarine has sunk a major warship.

During the Falklands War

During the Falklands War in May 1982, the British nuclear submarine HMS Conqueror sank the Argentine cruiser ARA General Belgrano, killing 323 sailors. The Cheonan, a smaller South Korean navy ship, sank in March 2010 following an attack by a North Korean submarine. The attack resulted in the loss of 45 lives.

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Source : Agencies

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