"Quiet death": At least 80 killed in US strike on Iranian warship, some still missing The Sri Lankan navy launched a rescue operation after receiving a distress signal from an Iranian vessel, according to a defense ministry official. A U.S. submarine reportedly sank the Iranian warship off the southern coast of Sri Lanka, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed on Wednesday. Hegseth described the incident as the first time an enemy ship had been sunk by a torpedo since World War II, calling it “Quiet Death.” He emphasized the U.S. military’s ongoing efforts to secure victory in the region, drawing parallels to past conflicts. Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath informed parliament that 180 individuals were aboard the Iranian ship, which he identified as the IRIS Dena. The vessel was listed as participating in a naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal from February 18 to 25, according to the exercise’s official website. Sri Lankan military officials reported that at least 32 survivors had been rescued and were being treated in a hospital in the southern port city of Galle. Navy spokesman Commander Buddhika Sampath stated that bodies were recovered from the sea near the incident site, but the ship itself was not found. Rescue teams observed only an oil slick at the location, which was outside Sri Lankan territorial waters. Sampath noted that Colombo remained committed to supporting the operation despite the location. The Sri Lankan forces prioritized saving lives and planned to investigate the incident’s cause later. Sampath added that no other ships or aircraft were observed in the area. He expressed hope for further rescues, stating the operation would continue until all possible survivors were accounted for.#pete_hegseth #bay_of_bengal #sri_lankan_navy #iranian_warship #irish_dena
