Indian Navy Launches Major Rescue Mission After Iranian Warship Sinks Near Sri Lanka
Indian Ocean Rescue Efforts Intensify After Iranian Frigate IRIS Dena Sinks Near Sri Lanka: A major search and rescue operation is underway in the Indian Ocean after the Iranian Navy frigate IRIS Dena reportedly sank following an alleged torpedo attack by a US submarine.
The incident occurred on the morning of March 4 in international waters about 20 nautical miles west of Galle, an area that falls under Sri Lanka’s search and rescue responsibility.
According to officials, the distress signal from the Iranian warship was first received by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Colombo. In response, the Indian Navy immediately launched a large-scale humanitarian rescue mission to assist the Sri Lankan-led operation.
A long-range maritime patrol aircraft was deployed at around 10 a.m. to help locate survivors and coordinate rescue activities. Another aircraft carrying air-droppable life rafts was kept on standby to provide additional emergency support if needed.
Search Continues for Iranian Sailors After Warship Sinks in Indian Ocean
To strengthen the rescue efforts at sea, the Indian Navy dispatched nearby warships. The sailing vessel INS Tarangini was ordered to move quickly to the location and reportedly reached the area by around 4 p.m. Meanwhile, the survey vessel INS Ikshak was sent from Kochi and is currently involved in ongoing search operations to locate missing sailors.
The Iranian frigate had around 130 crew members onboard when the incident occurred.
The ship was reportedly returning to Iran after taking part in the multinational naval exercise Milan, which was recently hosted in Visakhapatnam.
Iran has reacted strongly to the incident. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the attack, calling it an “atrocity at sea.” He said the vessel was attacked without warning while sailing in international waters.
Araghchi also emphasized that the frigate had been an honored guest of the Indian Navy during the Milan exercise and warned that such an action could set a dangerous precedent for naval operations worldwide.
As search teams continue to scan the waters for survivors, the incident has raised serious concerns about maritime security and escalating tensions in the region.
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