A US submarine sank an Iranian frigate in the Indian Ocean, marking the first torpedo sinking of an enemy vessel by the US since World War II.

WASHINGTON: A US submarine torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed on Wednesday.

Hegseth described the strike as evidence of America’s global reach in its ongoing war against Iran, stating that the vessel was hit while in international waters.

Sri Lankan authorities reported rescuing 32 crew members from the frigate IRIS Dena, with 148 other sailors missing and hopes fading for further survivors.

The US defense chief characterised the attack as “quiet death”, noting it was the first US sinking of an enemy ship by torpedo since World War II.

He drew a direct parallel to that conflict, declaring “we are fighting to win” in the current engagement.

According to the Pentagon, a primary objective of the US-Israeli war launched against Iran on Saturday is the elimination of the country’s naval forces.

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath informed parliament that the rescued Iranians were taken to a main hospital in the island’s south while search operations continued.

The frigate issued a distress call at dawn on Wednesday, with a rescue vessel reaching the area about 40 kilometres south of Galle port within an hour.

Only an oil patch remained when Sri Lankan navy rescue boats approached the scene, as the frigate had completely sunk.

A Sri Lankan defence official stated that a search was ongoing for the rest of the crew, whose fate remained unknown.

Sri Lankan navy spokesman Buddhika Sampath said the operation was conducted under the country’s international maritime obligations within its designated search and rescue area.

Sampath confirmed that a few bodies had been recovered from the area where the ship went down.

Sri Lanka has maintained neutrality in the Middle East conflict, repeatedly urging dialogue to resolve the crisis.

The nation relies heavily on remittances from over a million citizens employed in the Middle East, a key foreign exchange source as it recovers from a severe 2022 economic crisis.

Both the Sri Lankan navy and air force declined to release footage of the rescue operation, citing its involvement of another state’s military.

Police increased security outside Galle hospital as wounded Iranians were transported there by the local navy.

The Iranian Ambassador in Colombo, Alireza Delkhosh, was not immediately available for comment.

 The Sun Malaysia