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Bodies of Iranian sailors to be flown home
Sri Lanka's defence ministry confirmed on Friday that the remains of 84 Iranian sailors, killed when a US submarine torpedoed their warship last week, will be returned to Iran. The victims were aboard the Iris Dena, which sank approximately 40 km off Sri Lanka's southern coast on 4 March.
Incident details
The Iris Dena, carrying an estimated 130 crew members, was struck by a torpedo in international waters while returning from a military exercise hosted by India. The US Department of Defense released video footage showing the moment the vessel was hit, causing its stern to lift before exploding.
Recovery and repatriation
Following the attack, Sri Lankan authorities stored the recovered bodies in two freezers at Galle National Hospital. A police escort transported the remains to Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport on Friday morning for repatriation. A magistrate in Galle approved the release of the bodies to the Iranian embassy.
Survivors remain in Sri Lanka
According to AFP, 32 sailors rescued by the Sri Lankan navy after the attack will stay in the country. Their status and next steps have not been disclosed.
International reactions
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the sinking as a "quiet death" for the Iranian warship. In contrast, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the attack as an "atrocity at sea," warning that the US would "bitterly regret" establishing such a precedent. The incident occurred amid escalating tensions in the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, significantly broadening the scope of hostilities.
"The US has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran's shores. The US will come to bitterly regret the precedent it has set."
Abbas Araghchi, Iranian Foreign Minister
Retaliatory strikes
In response to the attack, Iran launched retaliatory strikes across the Middle East, targeting Gulf nations allied with the US. The attacks underscore the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the region.
