At least 87 people have been killed after a United States submarine torpedoed an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, according to reports by media. The vessel, identified as IRIS Dena, had recently participated in a multinational naval exercise in India before the incident occurred.

The Iranian frigate, a Moudge-class warship, had taken part in the MILAN naval exercise earlier this year. After completing the exercise and beginning its return journey, the vessel was reportedly attacked by a US submarine while sailing in international waters.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that an American submarine carried out the strike. Speaking to reporters, he described the attack as proof of the United States’ ability to project military power across the globe amid its ongoing conflict with Iran.

“An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo,” Hegseth said.

Video of strike released by US

Following the attack, the US Department of War released a black-and-white video showing what appeared to be footage from a submarine periscope followed by a distant explosion. The release of near real-time visuals from a submarine attack is considered unusual and highlights changing practices in wartime information sharing.

Military observers noted that the Iranian vessel likely did not detect the US submarine, even though it was operating at periscope depth. Analysts say this suggests a high level of stealth and tactical capability on the part of the American submarine.

Warship had recently visited India

IRIS Dena had earlier travelled to India to participate in the MILAN 2026 naval exercise, one of the largest multilateral maritime drills in the Indo-Pacific region. The exercise brings together navies from several countries to improve cooperation, maritime awareness and coordinated response to security challenges.

According to a statement issued by the Indian Navy on February 16, the harbour and sea phases of MILAN included complex maritime operations such as anti-submarine warfare, air defence exercises and search-and-rescue missions.

It remains unclear whether the US submarine had been monitoring the Iranian ship during its journey to and from the exercise. Defence experts believe it is possible that the submarine tracked the vessel throughout its voyage for intelligence purposes, a practice that is common among naval forces.

Bodies recovered near Sri Lanka

Officials from the Sri Lankan Navy said that 87 bodies have been recovered so far following the sinking of the frigate near Sri Lanka’s coast. Rescue operations are continuing as search teams attempt to locate missing sailors.

Authorities said 32 survivors have been rescued, while 61 crew members are still reported missing.

First torpedo sinking since World War II

Hegseth described the operation as a “quiet death” and said it marked the first time since World War II that the United States has sunk an enemy vessel using a torpedo.

“Like in that war, we are fighting to win,” he said.

According to the Pentagon, a key objective of the ongoing US-Israeli war against Iran is to neutralise Iran’s naval capabilities.

India has rejected claims circulating online that the United States used Indian ports to carry out strikes on Iran, calling the assertion baseless and fabricated.

The clarification came after a video featuring former US Army Colonel Douglas Macgregor began circulating widely on social media. In the interview with a US-based channel, he suggested that American forces were relying on Indian naval bases as part of their military operations against Iran.

Responding to the remarks, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that the claims were incorrect.

The MEA’s FactCheck account said that the statements being made on the channel were “fake and false”.

“We caution you against such baseless and fabricated comments,” the ministry said in a post on X on Wednesday.

Tensions escalate in Middle East conflict

India’s response comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following a conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.

The region was thrown into turmoil after the US and Israel carried out joint strikes on Iran on Saturday, which resulted in the death of Iran’s 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran later retaliated by launching missiles targeting Israel as well as American military bases located in Gulf countries.

In another development during the conflict, an American submarine fired a torpedo that sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean on Tuesday night. The vessel, IRIS Dena, had been on a friendly visit to India when it was hit. The attack reportedly left 87 people dead and marked the first instance since World War II in which an American submarine targeted a surface vessel.

The conflict has now entered its sixth day, with tensions continuing to remain high across the region.

Reports suggest that more than 1,000 people have been killed in Iran so far, while about a dozen deaths have been reported in Israel. At least six US troops are also said to have been killed during the fighting.

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have defended the strikes on Iran, saying the action was taken because Iran posed an imminent threat.

“If we didn’t do it first, they would have done it to Israel and give us a shot, if that was possible,” Trump said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced Laxmi Verma as its candidate for the Rajya Sabha from Chhattisgarh, naming her as part of a broader list of nominees released for six states. The decision comes after weeks of internal consultations and is being viewed as backing the preference of Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai.

Party deliberations and final selection

According to party sources, seven names were initially considered before the list was narrowed to three — Laxmi Verma, Narayan Chandel and Krishnamurthy Bandhi. After discussions at the central level, the BJP leadership finalised Verma’s candidature.

Verma, 55, hails from Mudpar village in Simga block of Balodabazar district. She has been associated with the BJP since 1990, beginning as a primary member and gradually rising through the organisational ranks.

Long association with BJP and public roles

Her political journey includes serving as the representative of Raipur MP Ramesh Bais in 2000. In 2001, she was elected to the BJP Mahila Morcha Working Committee, a role she held for four years.

Between 2010 and 2014, Verma was part of the National Working Committee of the BJP Panchayati Raj Cell. She also remained a member of the BJP Mahila Morcha Working Committee from 2010 to 2022. From 2021 to 2025, she served as State Vice President of the BJP in Chhattisgarh. During this period, she was entrusted with responsibilities as Gariaband organisation in-charge and BJP media spokesperson between 2021 and 2024.

Verma’s public life began in 1994 when she was elected councillor from Ward No. 7 of the Raipur Municipal Corporation. In 2010, she became president of the Raipur District Panchayat. Since October 7, 2024, she has been serving as a member of the Chhattisgarh State Women’s Commission.

Social and community engagement

Apart from party responsibilities, Verma has been active in several social organisations. She became president of Shakti Mahila Manch, Raipur, in 1998 and received the District Youth Award from Nehru Yuva Kendra, Raipur, in 1999.

She has also been associated with the Labor Rehabilitation Committee in Raipur and has served as Chief Patron of the Chhattisgarh Ekta Mazdoor Kalyan Sangh since 2009. Since 2011, she has been an advisory member of the Family Court, Raipur. Additionally, she has held positions in the All India Panchayat Parishad and the Chhattisgarh Scout Guides.

Verma is regarded as an influential figure within the Manwa Kurmi community and currently serves as National General Secretary of the All India Kurmi Kshatriya Mahasabha Women’s Wing.

Rajya Sabha arithmetic

Chhattisgarh presently has five members in the Rajya Sabha. Two seats, currently held by Congress leaders Phoolodevi Netam and KTS Tulsi, are set to fall vacant on April 9, 2026. Two other Congress MPs — Rajiv Shukla and Ranjeet Ranjan — have terms lasting until June 29, 2028. BJP leader Devendra Pratap Singh will continue in office until April 2, 2030.

With 90 MLAs in the Chhattisgarh Assembly and two Rajya Sabha seats going to polls, the winning quota is calculated at 31 first-preference votes. Given the BJP’s current strength in the Assembly, Verma’s election is widely seen as certain once voting is held.