The Digester

Sri Lanka evacuates crew from second Iranian ship after US sinks IRIS Dena

Mar 6th 2026

Sri Lanka has taken custody of a second Iranian vessel and evacuated more than 200 crew after a US submarine sank the frigate IRIS Dena off Sri Lanka, an attack that left 87 dead and has sparked legal and diplomatic concerns.

  • Sri Lanka evacuated more than 200 crew from a second Iranian naval vessel and will move the ship to Trincomalee for safekeeping.
  • A US submarine torpedoed the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena about 44 nautical miles off Sri Lanka, killing 87 and leaving 32 survivors from roughly 180 aboard.
  • Sri Lanka says the Dena was inside its exclusive economic zone but outside territorial waters when it sent a distress call and sank.
  • The Pentagon released footage of a Mark 48 torpedo striking the frigate and US officials confirmed the submarine strike.
  • Iran called the attack an atrocity and legal questions have been raised about a strike in international waters.
  • The sinking comes amid wider US and Israeli operations that have hit Iranian naval assets and caused heavy casualties and displacement in Iran, according to international reports.

Sources

aljazeera.com