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The Indian Navy launched an urgent search and rescue operation after Iranian warship IRIS Dena reportedly sank near Sri Lanka following a torpedo strike. Naval ships and aircraft were deployed as regional tensions escalate.
Indian Navy says it responded to distress call by IRIS Dena
New Delhi: The Indian Navy on Thursday confirmed that it responded to a distress call from the Iranian warship IRIS Dena after the vessel was reportedly struck by a torpedo from a United States submarine in waters near Sri Lanka. The navy immediately launched a search and rescue mission and deployed multiple assets to assist in the operation.
According to officials, the emergency signal from IRIS Dena was received early on March 4 at the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Colombo. The Iranian vessel was operating about 20 nautical miles west of Galle, within the search and rescue region managed by Sri Lanka.
Iran Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi slams US, calls sunken warship ‘guest of India’s Navy’
Soon after receiving the alert, the Indian Navy dispatched a long-range maritime patrol aircraft to support the search operations already underway by Sri Lankan authorities. Another aircraft equipped with air-droppable life rafts was kept on standby to assist survivors if required.
The naval training ship INS Tarangini, which was operating nearby, was directed to the area to aid the rescue effort. The vessel reached the search zone by late afternoon on March 4.
Later, the survey ship INS Ikshak was also deployed and remained in the region to continue the search for missing personnel. Officials said the operation was carried out as a humanitarian response for sailors affected by the shipwreck.
The Indian Navy added that it is closely coordinating with the Sri Lanka Navy and other agencies involved in the ongoing rescue efforts.
The Iranian vessel had reportedly been returning from the multinational naval exercise MILAN 2024 held in Visakhapatnam when it was attacked in international waters. According to Sri Lankan authorities, more than 80 bodies of Iranian sailors have been recovered following the incident.
Iran has strongly condemned the alleged attack, accusing the United States Navy of carrying out an unlawful strike. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that the United States would “regret the precedent” set by the incident.
The development comes amid escalating tensions in the region, with Iran reportedly targeting US military installations. Reports indicate that at least four American servicemen have been killed in recent retaliatory strikes, raising concerns of a wider conflict.
