According to Hegseth, the Iranian frigate believed it was safe in international waters but was attacked by a torpedo. The minister did not specify which vessel was involved, but it was previously reported that the IRIS Dena sank near Sri Lankan territorial waters. Reuters reported that the frigate was attacked by a submarine.
Hegseth also noted that the Iranian fleet became "non-operational and defeated" after the attacks by American forces. He pointed to strikes on key Iranian military vessels, including the missile catamaran corvette "Suleimani," named after the slain General Qasem Soleimani. "I believe the US president 'got' him twice," he added.
Later, the Sri Lankan Navy reported that 87 bodies had been recovered from the sunken IRIS Dena and 32 people had been rescued. Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena stated that there were 180 people on board, after which the country's government dispatched its ships and aircraft for the rescue operation.
This incident occurred on the fifth day of the conflict between the US and Israel against Iran. Attacks on Iranian territory began on February 28, during which US President Donald Trump announced his intention to destroy Iran's nuclear program and urged Iranian military personnel to lay down their arms.
Iranian state media report at least 787 casualties as a result of the strikes, with among the dead being the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and high-ranking military officials. In response, Iran launched attacks on Israel and several Gulf countries, claiming it was not at war with Arabs but targeting American bases in the region.
[media=https://twitter.com/DeptofWar/status/2029193757162139762?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
