A U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship with a torpedo in the Indian Ocean, in what the Pentagon described as the first attack of this kind against an enemy since World War II. This action marks a new phase in the military escalation between Washington, Israel, and Iran.
The Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, confirmed that the attack occurred Tuesday night. He explained that the Iranian vessel believed it was safe in international waters but was hit by a torpedo fired from a U.S. submarine.
In an official message disseminated by the Department of War —a term used symbolically in the communication— the event was described as “Quiet Death”.
It was the first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II. "As in that war, we are fighting to win," Hegseth stated.
Authorities in Sri Lanka reported that 32 people were rescued after the sinking off their coast and confirmed that there were fatalities, although they did not specify the numbers.
Sri Lanka, which coordinates the rescue operations following the impact, reported that at least 83 crew members of the Iranian frigate died in the sinking, while dozens remain missing, according to EFE.
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of that country, General Aruna Jayasekara, specified that the remains of the vessel were located approximately 40 kilometers from the city of Galle, where authorities have established a reception center for victims and survivors.
The episode takes place amid intense bombings by the United States and Israel against targets linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, the Basij militia, and internal security structures in Tehran and other cities.
At the same time, Iran launched missiles against Israel and attacked targets in Bahrain and Kuwait, while Hezbollah fired rockets from Lebanon.
The conflict has resulted in at least 1,045 deaths in Iran, 11 in Israel, and more than 50 in Lebanon, along with six U.S. military personnel killed. Tension is also impacting global markets following attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly 20% of the world's oil passes.
The U.S. high command warned that the operations "are only just beginning," indicating that the confrontation could extend with unpredictable consequences for the region and the global economy.
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