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.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday night chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to assess the rapidly evolving situation in West Asia following the US-Israel military action against Iran and the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

The high-level meeting took place soon after the prime minister returned to New Delhi at around 9.30 pm after concluding his two-day visit to Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. According to sources, the CCS reviewed developments arising from the fresh round of hostilities in the region and their potential implications for India.

Those present at the meeting included Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Senior officials such as National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff Anil Chauhan, Cabinet Secretary T. V. Somanathan and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri also attended.

Safety of Indian nationals discussed

Sources indicated that the CCS deliberated on measures to ensure the safety of Indian citizens in the region. Nearly 10,000 Indians are currently in Iran, while more than 40,000 reside in Israel. The broader Gulf and West Asia region is home to an estimated nine million Indians.

With airspace across parts of West Asia largely shut amid military escalation, flight operations have been disrupted. Hundreds of Indian passengers are reported to be stranded at major transit hubs such as Dubai and Doha, prompting appeals on social media for government assistance.

The Ministry of External Affairs said Indian missions in the affected countries are in touch with nationals and have activated helplines to provide support.

Strait of Hormuz and oil supply concerns

The meeting is also understood to have reviewed the situation arising from the reported closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian authorities. The strait is a crucial maritime route for global energy supplies, including oil shipments destined for India.

In the past, India has carried out large-scale evacuation operations in conflict zones, including in West Asia, to bring back its citizens safely.

Escalation in West Asia

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was reported killed in a major strike carried out early Saturday by Israel and the United States. Iranian state television and the state-run IRNA news agency announced the 86-year-old leader’s death on Sunday.

US President Donald Trump said the action gave Iranians their “greatest chance” to “take back their country” and indicated that military operations would continue as long as necessary.

Iran responded by launching drones and missiles targeting Israel, US military installations in the Gulf region, and areas including the global business hub of Dubai.

Meanwhile, members of the Shia community in several parts of India held gatherings on Sunday to express grief and protest over Khamenei’s killing.