Washington DC, 06 March (H.S.): In a bold escalation of the ongoing US-Iran conflict, American forces have sunk over 30 Iranian naval vessels, including a major frigate torpedoed by a US submarine off Sri Lanka's coast, as confirmed by top military officials and regional reports.

Surge in US Naval Dominance

Admiral Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, revealed Thursday that the US has now destroyed more than 30 Iranian ships since launching Operation Epic Fury on February 26 alongside Israeli allies. In a striking recent blow, a US submarine targeted an Iranian drone carrier—comparable in size to a World War II flattop—leaving it ablaze in the Indian Ocean. Iranian ballistic missile strikes have plummeted 90 percent and drone attacks 83 percent since hostilities began, crippling Tehran's offensive capabilities.

This follows the high-profile sinking of the IRIS Dena, a Moudge-class frigate from Iran's Southern Fleet carrying about 180 sailors. The vessel issued a distress call 40 nautical miles off Galle, Sri Lanka, on March 4, shortly after participating in India's MILAN naval exercises near Visakhapatnam.

Sri Lankan Navy rescuers arrived to find oil slicks, life rafts, and debris but no ship; they recovered 32 survivors—many critically injured—and at least 87 bodies, with over 100 still missing.

Regional Ripples and Rescue Efforts

Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath affirmed the nation's response under international maritime obligations, deploying ships and aircraft despite the incident occurring outside territorial waters. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the submarine strike as the first of its kind since World War II, emphasizing the precision torpedo attack that rapidly incapacitated the heavily armed frigate equipped with anti-ship missiles, torpedoes, and a helicopter.

President Donald Trump, overseeing the campaign, rated US efforts 15 out of 10, vowing to dismantle Iran's navy and missile arsenal amid reports of Tehran striking Bahrain's oil refineries and Pakistan facing fuel shortages. India dispatched a vessel to aid the IRIS Dena rescue and secured a 30-day US waiver for Russian oil imports, navigating the Hormuz Strait crisis.

The strikes widen a conflict that has shattered Iranian defenses, as satellite imagery reveals devastation across military sites, with no signs of intervention from China or Russia. Search operations continue off Sri Lanka, a vital shipping corridor, as global markets brace for prolonged disruptions.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar