An Iranian warship was sunk by a U.S. submarine near Sri Lanka after participating in naval exercises hosted by India. The IRIS Dena had taken part in the International Fleet Review and MILAN 2026 exercises in Visakhapatnam before heading home through international waters in the Indian Ocean.

Sri Lanka's navy recovered 87 bodies and rescued 32 sailors from the sunken vessel, marking a rare instance of submarine warfare since World War II. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the IRIS Dena as a "prize ship," while President Trump has stated that eliminating Iran's navy is a key war objective.

The incident has sparked debate in India about its maritime responsibilities and diplomatic stance. Opposition leaders criticized Prime Minister Modi's government for remaining silent on the sinking of a warship that had been India's guest just weeks earlier. Former diplomat Kanwal Sibal noted that while India bears no political or military responsibility, it faces moral obligations given the ship was in these waters due to India's invitation.