Washington, March 4, (dpa/GNA) – The US military sank an Iranian warship with a torpedo, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday, stating it was the first attack of its kind since World War II.
It was initially unclear exactly which ship was involved.
It had previously been reported that there had been an explosion on the Iranian frigate “IRIS Dena” off Sri Lanka.
“In the Indian Ocean, an American submarine sunk an Iranian warship, that thought it was safe in international waters,” Hegseth told a news conference.
“Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo – Quiet Death. The first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II. Like in that war, back when we were still the War Department, we are fighting to win.”
Thirty-two Iranian sailors were rescued on Wednesday, with several bodies recovered and more than 100 reported missing, Sri Lanka authorities and media reported.
A further 78 people on board the frigate were injured, the Sri Lankan Daily Mirror newspaper reported, citing the defence ministry.
According to reports, the Iranian Navy ship had sent out distress signals. The frigate was in international waters in the Indian Ocean.
GNA