Second Iranian Warship Heads Toward Sri Lanka After IRIS Dena Sinking, Officials Warn of Potential Threat
A second Iranian warship was reported heading toward Sri Lanka on Thursday, just a day after a US submarine destroyed the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena, killing 87 sailors. Sri Lankan Minister Nalinda Jayatissa confirmed the vessel was located just outside the country’s territorial waters.
The ship is reportedly carrying over 100 crew members. Sources told AFP that there are concerns it could face a similar attack as its sister ship, which sank off Sri Lanka’s southern coast on Wednesday. “We are doing our utmost to safeguard lives,” Jayatissa said.
The warship has requested an urgent port call. Sri Lankan MP Namal Rajapaksa said the vessel is awaiting government clearance, adding on X, “The government must immediately reveal its stance on this matter.”
Meanwhile, authorities in Galle were preparing to hand over the remains of the 87 Iranian sailors killed in the torpedo attack claimed by the US military. Thirty-two survivors are still receiving treatment at the main hospital in Galle under heavy security provided by police and elite commandos.
Iran reportedly sought the safety of Sri Lankan waters, prompting President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to convene with top officials to decide a response. Navy spokesman Buddhika Sampath said search operations continue for an estimated 60 missing personnel.
Iran is a major buyer of Sri Lankan tea, the country’s principal export commodity.
Escalation in the Indian Ocean
The IRIS Dena attack expands the conflict far beyond the Gulf, where US and Israeli forces have been targeting Iran, and Tehran has retaliated with missile and drone strikes. The frigate had issued a distress call at dawn on Wednesday but sank completely before a Sri Lankan rescue vessel reached the scene. The ship had been returning from a military exercise in Visakhapatnam when it was struck.
Iran has launched a new wave of attacks on Israeli and American bases, warning that the US will “bitterly regret” its actions in international waters. In a post on X, Iranian officials said, “The US has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran’s shores. Frigate Dena, a guest of India’s Navy carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck without warning. Mark my words: The US will bitterly regret the precedent it has set.”
While India and Sri Lanka have maintained a neutral stance and repeatedly called for dialogue, the region is increasingly caught up in the fallout of the US-Israel offensive launched last Saturday, which led to the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
