WEB Desk(National Times)- An Iranian naval warship was destroyed in the Indian Ocean after being struck by a United States submarine near Sri Lanka, leaving dozens dead and injured as the confrontation between Washington and Tehran intensified beyond the Gulf region. According to Sri Lankan officials, the vessel was carrying about 180 personnel at the time of the attack. Authorities have recovered 87 bodies from the sea, while 32 wounded sailors were taken to hospital. Around 60 crew members remain unaccounted for. The incident occurred after the Iranian navy ship completed military exercises near India and was reportedly returning to Iran when it was targeted. US Central Command said the submarine strike formed part of broader operations against Iranian naval assets, noting that more than 20 Iranian vessels had been hit or sunk. The attack on the frigate marked the first such action by a US submarine since the Second World War. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the operation, stating that the Iranian vessel was struck by a torpedo in international waters. He described the sinking as a “quiet death” delivered by the submarine. The ship has been identified as IRIS Dena, a domestically built Iranian frigate belonging to the navy’s 86th flotilla. The vessel is equipped with Noor and Qader anti-ship missiles, a 76mm Fajr-27 naval gun and 30mm weapons. Measuring roughly 95 metres in length and displacing about 1,500 tonnes, the warship had previously completed a global maritime voyage of approximately 65,000 kilometres between 2022 and 2023. The strike has also triggered political reactions in India. Congress leader Pawan Khera criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming the Iranian warship had earlier been invited to India. Indian analysts have since questioned New Delhi’s regional influence and foreign policy stance, warning that any use of Indian territory or resources in US operations could risk drawing the country into the conflict. The incident came as Western allies moved to bolster defences amid fears of Iranian retaliation. Britain and France indicated they were prepared to deploy naval and air assets for protective operations, while Greece repositioned aircraft and warships to Cyprus.