A US submarine sank an Iranian warship. First torpedo attack since 1945, at least 80 dead.

A US submarine torpedoes and sinks an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean. According to US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, it was the first time since the end of World War II that a US Navy vessel sank an enemy warship with a torpedo. The incident took place off the coast of Sri Lanka and, according to local authorities, resulted in at least 80 casualties.

„A US submarine sank an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo. A silent death,“ Pete Hegseth said at a Pentagon press conference alongside the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dana Caine. He stressed that this was the first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since 1945.

According to the Sri Lankan navy, its forces intercepted a distress signal from the Iranian vessel Iris Dena near the city of Galle in the southwest of the island. A rescue mission was dispatched to the site, but found only a large oil slick and several surviving and dead sailors. Sri Lanka's deputy foreign minister said at least 80 people had died and others may be missing.

Hegseth further stated that the United States, during the ongoing conflict with Iran „effectively neutralized Tehran's main naval presence in the area“. According to Dana Caine US forces have so far hit more than 2,000 targets and destroyed over 20 Iranian vessels, including a frigate operating outside the normal area of deployment.

„The Iranian navy rests on the bottom of the Persian Gulf. It is ineffective, decimated, destroyed - pick your adjective.“ Hegseth said.

The Defence Minister also praised Israel as an „unwavering partner“ and „capable ally“. He said the United States and Israel will be able to gain full control of Iranian airspace in less than a week. „We will fly day and night over Tehran and other parts of Iran until we decide it's over,“ Hegseth said.

In another part of the briefing, Hegseth confirmed that a man who US authorities believe was behind the plan to assassinate Donald Trump was killed in recent strikes. He was an Iranian national accused in 2024 of orchestrating a contract killing on behalf of the Revolutionary Guards in retaliation for the killing of General Qasem Soleimani in 2020.

The Pentagon is also investigating reports of a deadly strike on a girls' school in the southern Iranian town of Minab. Iranian state media say up to 168 people were killed and 95 others injured in the attack. Hegseth said the United States is not targeting civilian targets and is investigating the incident.

gnews.cz - GH