COLOMBO: A U.S. submarine blasted an Iranian warship out of the water in a dramatic confrontation off the coast of Sri Lanka, leaving 87 sailors dead and sending shockwaves across an already volatile region.
Pentagon officials said the strike happened in the northern Indian Ocean after the submarine’s crew determined the Iranian vessel posed an “imminent threat” to American forces and commercial shipping. Within minutes, torpedoes were launched and the warship was sunk.
Tehran erupted in fury, accusing the United States of carrying out an unprovoked attack in international waters. Iranian state media said 87 crew members were killed and several others wounded, calling the strike a “direct act of war.” The figures have not been independently confirmed.
The clash marks a major escalation between Washington and Iran, dramatically expanding the conflict zone beyond the Middle East and into vital global shipping lanes used to transport oil and goods worldwide.
Sri Lankan officials said the battle took place outside their territorial waters but acknowledged heightened security concerns as debris and rescue operations unfolded nearby.
Emergency talks were reportedly requested at the United Nations as diplomats scrambled to prevent further retaliation and a wider regional war.
