Amid intensifying regional hostilities, Iranian naval forces reportedly lost a key frigate near Galle. Dozens of sailors have been evacuated, many critically injured.
BY PC Bureau
March 4, 2026 — An Iranian naval frigate, the IRIS Dena, reportedly sank in the Indian Ocean approximately 40 nautical miles off Sri Lanka’s southern coast near Galle on Wednesday following a suspected submarine strike, leaving more than 100 crew members unaccounted for and dozens injured, according to multiple media reports citing Sri Lankan navy and defense ministry sources, as well as international agencies including Reuters.
The Moudge-class (also spelled Mowj-class) frigate — one of Iran’s domestically built surface combatants — was said to be returning home after participating in the MILAN 2026 multinational naval exercise hosted by the Indian Navy in Visakhapatnam. The exercise, which recently concluded and involved more than 70 nations, reportedly included harbor and sea phases in the Bay of Bengal featuring warships, submarines, and aircraft.
Sri Lankan authorities said they received a distress signal from the vessel around dawn local time, prompting an immediate response from the Sri Lanka Navy and Air Force. Officials told Parliament that the ship had roughly 180 personnel onboard when it reported difficulties just outside Sri Lanka’s territorial waters. Rescue operations involving naval vessels and aircraft led to the evacuation of several dozen sailors, many of them injured.
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Medical sources in Galle confirmed that rescued personnel were admitted to Karapitiya Teaching Hospital. Some were reported to be in critical condition, while others sustained serious or minor injuries. Casualty figures varied across reports, and officials indicated that search-and-rescue efforts were ongoing. Authorities have not released a final confirmed toll.
Sri Lanka has deployed naval ships and aircraft to assist the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena after it reported distress off the coast of Galle.
Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath confirmed that 30 of the approximately 180 sailors on board have been rescued so far.
Rescue operations are… pic.twitter.com/OEWl42VR6J— Sri Lanka Tweet 🇱🇰 (@SriLankaTweet) March 4, 2026
The reported incident occurred amid an intensifying regional conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. While no party has formally claimed responsibility for the sinking, some analysts have speculated about the possibility of a submarine attack given the broader naval activity in the region. Sri Lankan officials have described the situation primarily as a maritime distress event and said investigations remain preliminary.
If confirmed as a hostile strike, the sinking would represent a significant widening of naval tensions beyond traditionally contested areas such as the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns about the security of Indian Ocean shipping lanes and the safety of vessels operating in international waters.
Sri Lanka’s government emphasized that its role has been humanitarian, focusing on rescue operations and medical assistance. Defense officials said naval patrols in the area have been heightened as a precaution. Iranian authorities had not issued a detailed public statement at the time of reporting.
Search efforts continue, and officials have urged caution for commercial and military vessels operating in the surrounding waters pending further clarification of the circumstances.
