US Submarine Sinks Iranian Warship Off Sri Lanka — 87 Dead, Over 100 Missing
A US Navy submarine sank the Iranian military frigate IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean, near the coast of Sri Lanka. At least 87 sailors' bodies have been pulled from the water. More than 100 are still missing. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the US sub was responsible.
What Happened
On Wednesday, March 4, an Iranian military ship — the frigate IRIS Dena — sank in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka's navy quickly responded. Rescue teams pulled 32 sailors out of the water alive. They recovered 87 bodies. More than 100 crew members are still missing.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that a US Navy submarine fired on and sank the ship. He did not give details about when the attack happened or how many missiles were used.
Healthcare workers in Galle, a coastal city in Sri Lanka, received the bodies of the Iranian sailors and began the process of identification.
Why Was the Ship So Far Away?
The IRIS Dena was part of Iran's navy. It was operating far from the Persian Gulf — all the way out in the Indian Ocean. Iran has sent navy ships far from home before, often to show that it can project military power far from its borders.
It is not yet clear whether the ship was on a combat mission or a patrol. Iran has not yet released an official explanation of what the ship was doing near Sri Lanka when it was hit.
What Iran Is Saying
Iran has not made an official statement about the sinking yet, as of this update. However, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) separately announced on Wednesday that Iran has "complete control" of the Strait of Hormuz — the narrow waterway where about 20% of the world's oil moves. The IRGC said attacks on Iranian economic targets will be met with attacks on the region's oil facilities.
Drones suspected to be Iranian struck a military base in Bahrain on Wednesday as well. Eyewitness video shows the explosion at the base. The attack has not been officially claimed.
What the US Is Saying
Hegseth confirmed the submarine attack and also said Wednesday that the US is sending more military forces to the Middle East. He said the war is "just getting started." He gave no timeline for when US strikes on Iran might stop.
The US has been running a joint military campaign with Israel against Iran called Operation Epic Fury, which started on February 28. It has included strikes on nuclear sites, military headquarters, government buildings, and communications infrastructure inside Iran.
The Death Toll Is Now Past 1,000
Al Jazeera's live tracker puts the confirmed death toll at:
- Iran: 1,045 killed
- Israel: 11 killed
- US soldiers: 6 killed
- Gulf states (UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar): 9 killed
That is a total of more than 1,070 people dead in six days of war. The number is likely to rise. Many people are still missing, including the 100+ sailors from the IRIS Dena.
Other Developments Wednesday
A NATO missile defense system destroyed an Iranian missile over the Mediterranean Sea on Wednesday. Turkey's defense ministry confirmed the interception. The missile was fired from Iran and flew across Iraq and Syria before approaching Turkish airspace. (Confirmed by Al Jazeera — additional verification pending.)
In Lebanon, Israel continued airstrikes on Dahiyeh, a southern suburb of Beirut. Smoke was seen rising near Rafik Hariri International Airport. Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem gave a televised speech from the area.
Spain's prime minister publicly opposed the war, saying "no to war" and urging the US, Iran, and Israel to negotiate. The White House threatened to cut trade ties with Spain. Spain denied agreeing to cooperate with US military operations — contradicting a claim made by the Trump administration.
Source Check
Confirmed by 2+ sources: The sinking of the IRIS Dena and Hegseth's confirmation of US submarine involvement are reported by both AP News (photo captions + wire reports, March 4, 2026) and Al Jazeera (headline stories, March 4, 2026). Death toll figures are from Al Jazeera's live tracker and AP News image gallery, cross-referenced. The Bahrain drone attack is confirmed by Al Jazeera eyewitness video. The NATO Mediterranean intercept is reported by Al Jazeera citing Turkey's defense ministry — labeled as single-source pending corroboration.