Top News

Colombo/Washington, March 4. Sri Lankan authorities said on Wednesday that they have recovered the bodies of about 80 Iranian sailors from an Iranian naval ship that was sunk by a US submarine attack off Sri Lanka’s southern (Galle) coast.

Sri Lanka had earlier said that its navy rescued 32 Iranian sailors from the Iranian ship ‘Iris Dena’ carrying about 180 sailors in the early hours of Wednesday. The Sri Lankan Navy, however, did not give a reason why the ship sent the emergency message.

Hegseth said – American submarine sank an Iranian warship

Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that an American submarine sank an Iranian warship in international waters. He said that this is the first incident of sinking an enemy ship with torpedoes since the Second World War. The Iranian ship was returning after participating in an international naval exercise recently organized by India. However, there was no immediate comment from the Indian Navy.

“An American submarine sank an Iranian warship that was believed to be safe in international waters,” Hegseth told reporters in Washington. But she was sunk by a torpedo. He said the US military sank the Iranian ship named ‘Suleimani’, which was named after General Qasim Suleimani, the chief of the Iranian ‘Quds’ force. US forces killed Soleimani during the first term of President Donald Trump. Referring to General Suleimani, Hegseth said, ‘I think the American President has killed him for the second time.’

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath gave information in Parliament

Earlier, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said in Parliament that an emergency message was received at 5.08 am, in which there was information about a ship sinking. He said it was about 40 nautical miles from the southern port district of Galle. Herath said that the Sri Lankan Navy and Air Force conducted a joint rescue operation. He said, ‘There were about 180 people on board, out of which 30 were saved.’

closer to the ship 180 people were riding, in which 30 was saved

Officials said they recovered about 80 bodies. Sri Lankan Deputy Foreign Minister Arun Chandra said the bodies were now at Karapitiya Hospital in Galle. Sri Lankan navy spokesman Commander Buddhika Sampath had earlier told reporters in Colombo that several bodies were found near the spot from where the emergency message was sent, although the exact number was not immediately known.

“At this time, it is difficult to give any numbers, but bodies have been found,” he said. Since these bodies were found near the location of the emergency signal, it is believed that they belong to the same ship. When our teams reached the spot, we saw a large amount of oil spilled, which indicated that the ship had sunk.

Sampath said the reason for the emergency message would be known after investigation by expert officials. He said the incident occurred outside Sri Lankan territorial waters, but within the country’s search and rescue zone. Sampath confirmed that the ship was Iranian and that the rescued crew members were in Iranian naval uniform. Air Force spokesperson Nalin Wevakumbura said no other ships or aircraft were detected in the area from where the emergency message came.

Herath said Sri Lanka is obliged under international maritime rescue treaties to assist any person in distress, regardless of the cause. Herath said the rescued sailors were taken to the Navy’s Southern Command headquarters and later admitted to Karapitiya Hospital in Galle. Officials said security has been beefed up around the Southern Command. Referring to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, Herath said that Sri Lanka expresses deep concern about the situation and appeals for a peaceful solution.