Iranian Military Ship Sinks Near Sri Lanka, Over 100 Missing

At least 100 people are missing after the Iranian military ship IRIS Dena sank off the coast of Sri Lanka. The frigate, which was located about 40 nautical miles (75 kilometers) from Galle in southern Sri Lanka, issued a distress call early on Wednesday morning. The cause of the sinking remains unknown.

Sri Lankan authorities have recovered several bodies and rescued 32 wounded sailors from the incident. The ship had approximately 180 crew members on board at the time of the distress call. A search and rescue operation is currently underway to locate the missing personnel.

The IRIS Dena was returning from participating in the 2026 International Fleet Review in Vishakapatnam, India. In response to the distress signal, Sri Lanka dispatched naval ships and air force planes to assist in the rescue efforts. A Sri Lankan navy spokesperson confirmed that no other ships or aircraft were detected in the vicinity of the incident.

Al Jazeera's Minnelle Fernandez reported from outside a hospital in Galle, where the rescued crew members are receiving medical treatment. Sri Lankan officials are actively investigating the incident to determine the fate of the nearly 150 missing crew members. An Iranian embassy official in Colombo stated that two officers have been sent to Galle to interview survivors and gather information on the possible causes of the sinking.

The incident occurs amid heightened tensions in the region, as the United States and Israel continue air strikes on Iran following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The conflict has resulted in significant casualties, including the deaths of nearly 800 people and six US service members. Iran has retaliated with drone and missile attacks targeting Israel and US-linked assets in the Gulf, leading to further fatalities.