A submarine has reportedly sunk an Iranian naval frigate named Dena near Sri Lanka's coast, as confirmed by sources from the Sri Lankan Navy and Ministry of Defence to Reuters. The frigate went down in international waters close to the maritime boundary of Sri Lanka, approximately 40 kilometers south of the island according to AFP. The Sri Lankan Navy is currently conducting search operations in the area to locate any potential survivors.

Following the sinking, initial reports indicate that 78 individuals were injured while 101 others are still unaccounted for. The frigate Dena, which was commissioned in 2021 and measures 94 meters in length, sent a distress signal at dawn before it sank. This incident marks the first time since the Falklands War in 1982 that a submarine has sunk a warship—a historical parallel being made with the sinking of the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano by the British submarine Conqueror.

Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath addressed Parliament regarding the incident, indicating that injured crew members have been hospitalized in the southern part of the island. As search operations continue, concerns remain about the fate of those missing and the broader implications this incident may have on naval operations and tensions in the region.