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An Iranian warship sank off the southern coast of Sri Lanka on Wednesday after what defense sources described as an attack by a "foreign submarine," with conflicting reports claiming over 100 sailors are missing and bodies of suspected crew members recovered during an ongoing search and rescue operation.
At least 108 sailors are missing after the IRIS Dena, a Moudge-class frigate serving in the Iranian Navy's Southern Fleet, sank off the coast of the city of Galle, the Sri Lankan outlet Daily Mirror reported, citing defense sources. Seventy-eight other sailors were wounded in the incident.
Sri Lanka's navy and air force launched a joint rescue operation after the vessel issued a distress call saying it had been hit. Thirty-two people were rescued and are receiving treatment at Karapitiya Hospital in Galle, a Sri Lanka Navy spokesperson confirmed.
The navy spokesperson corrected earlier figures, saying the initial numbers given were not accurate and that 32 people injured in the incident had been rescued. A search and rescue operation remains underway.
Bodies suspected to be those of crew members have been recovered during the operation, the spokesperson said, adding that details on the number of dead could not yet be provided. The spokesperson said they did not observe any other ships in the area.
Sri Lankan authorities have not confirmed whether the Iranian vessel came under attack. The cause of the sinking is not yet officially known.
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The IRIS Dena is one of Iran's newest warships. The frigate was the centerpiece of a two-ship international tour in 2023 that included port calls in countries including South Africa and Brazil, accompanied by the support ship IRIS Makran, a converted oil tanker.
The U.S. Treasury Department included both ships on a sanctions designation in February 2023, along with eight executives of an Iranian drone manufacturer that supplied weapons to Russia for use against civilian targets in Ukraine.
Before the incident, the IRIS Dena had recently taken part in the Milan 2026 multinational naval exercise and fleet review held in Visakhapatnam, India.
Sri Lanka's navy and air force said they were not releasing footage of the rescue operation because it involved the military of another state, according to CNA.
The United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and numerous senior officials.
Iran has retaliated with missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and Gulf countries hosting U.S. military assets.
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