Around 140 people are missing after an Iranian navy ship sank off the coast of Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan navy said about 180 people were on board the vessel, while 32 have been rescued so far. The ship, identified as the IRIS Dena, sent a distress call early on March 4, prompting rescue operations.
Budhika Sampath, a spokesman for the Sri Lankan navy, said the ship sank outside Sri Lankan waters but within its search and rescue zone, making it the country’s responsibility to respond under international maritime obligations. “We found people floating on the water and pulled them to safety,” he said. “When we confirmed their identities, we learned they were crew from an Iranian navy ship.”
At the start of the operation, rescuers did not see the ship itself. They reported spotting oil patches and floating life rafts, suggesting the vessel had gone down quickly. Sampath confirmed that while 180 people were listed on the ship’s documentation, the exact number of missing remains uncertain.
Rumors that the ship sank due to a submarine attack have been rejected by the Sri Lankan navy. The cause of the sinking is currently unknown, and Sri Lanka’s military has not verified any explanation for the incident.
The sinking of the IRIS Dena comes amid heightened regional tensions. Israel has launched fresh strikes in Lebanon, targeting locations connected to Hezbollah operatives and facilities. While there is no confirmed link between the naval disaster and these wider hostilities, the incident highlights the growing risks for military vessels operating in the region.
Rescue operations continue, with Sri Lankan authorities working against time and the challenges of a vast stretch of open sea. Families of the crew are awaiting news, while analysts note that naval accidents in the Indian Ocean can have wider diplomatic and security implications, particularly as Iran maintains an active naval presence in strategic shipping lanes.
