TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed the US military sank an Iranian frigate off the coast of Sri Lanka in international waters on Wednesday morning, emphasizing the reach of the US military as Washington continues to expand its war on Iran.
"An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo," Hegseth told reporters.
Sri Lanka carries out rescue operation
Sri Lanka's military had earlier reported its navy was carrying out a rescue operation after the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena issued a distress call from a location just 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of Sri Lanka, just outside the island's territorial waters in the Indian Ocean.
Sri Lankan Navy spokesman Buddhika Sampath said that Sri Lanka "responded to the distress call under our international obligations, as this is within our search and rescue area."
Sampath added that by the time Sri Lankan ships arrived at the location, the ship had sunk and "there were only some oil patches and life rafts. We found people floating on the water."
The frigate was carrying a crew of 180 sailors, of which 32 were rescued from the sea and are being treated in a Sri Lankan hospital in the town of Galle south of Colombo.
"We are keeping up a search, but we don't know yet what happened to the rest of the crew," a Sri Lankan defense official told AFP earlier Wednesday. It was initially unclear how long the rescue operation would last. Sri Lankan police later said 87 bodies of Iranian sailors had been recovered.
First US sinking by torpedo since World War II
Sri Lankan authorities were reluctant to share any details of how the frigate sank, and denied initial reports from unnamed defense ministry sources that a submarine was involved.
Hegseth called the US submarine attack in international water a "quiet death" and added it was the first US sinking of an enemy ship by torpedo since World War II.
"Like in that war," he said, "we are fighting to win."
The IRIS Dena is a domestically produced light frigate that patrols in deep water for the Iranian navy. It is armed with surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles and torpedoes, and can carry one helicopter.
Read: Did the US-Israel Strikes on Iran Break International Law?
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google New
Prabowo Sends Condolence Letter to Iran on Khamenei's Death
53 menit lalu
Prabowo sent a condolence letter to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, delivered by Foreign Minister Sugiono to Iran's ambassador in Jakarta.
Did the US-Israel Strikes on Iran Break International Law?
1 jam lalu
From disputed self defense claims to the killing of Iran's leader, legal experts say the USIsraeli attack defies UN rules.
Iran Postpones Khamenei Funeral as Israel Threatens Successor
2 jam lalu
The delay comes days after Khamenei was assassinated along with several family members in joint airstrikes by Israel and the United States.
NATO Intercepts Iranian Ballistic Missile Headed for Turkey
3 jam lalu
Turkey's Defense Ministry said the missile, which flew over Iraq and Syria, "was engaged in a timely manner and rendered inactive."
Prabowo Offers Condolences on Death of Iran's Ali Khamenei
3 jam lalu
President Prabowo Subianto expresses his condolences on the passing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Rubio: US Strikes on Iran Prompted by Israel's Plan to Launch Attack
3 jam lalu
Rubio's remarks came as President Donald Trump denied reports that Washington was preparing direct military action against Tehran.
Geopolitical Risks May Push Rupiah to Rp17,400 per US Dollar
4 jam lalu
The exchange rate of the rupiah closed at the level of Rp 16,892 per US dollar on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. The rupiah weakened by 20 points from the previous day's closing at the level of Rp 16,872 per US dollar.
Son of Late Ali Khamenei Touted as Next Iran Supreme Leader
5 jam lalu
Son of the late Ali Khamenei, Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei has reportedly been elected as the next Supreme Leader of Iran.
Sri Lanka Says Iranian Ship Sinks off Coast
6 jam lalu
Iranian frigate IRIS Dena sank just 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of Sri Lanka.
Strait of Hormuz Oil Trade by Country: 5 Nations Most at Risk of Disruption
6 jam lalu
Understanding the oil trade from the strait of Hormuz by country highlights how deeply many major economies rely on this passage.
