US sub sinks Iranian ship by torpedo in Indian Ocean, 1st such attack since WWII
A historic event unfolded in the Indian Ocean as a U.S. Navy fast-attack submarine successfully sank an Iranian warship with a single torpedo. This remarkable feat, disclosed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, marked the first time since World War II that an American submarine had destroyed an enemy vessel.
The operation, carried out thousands of miles away from Iran, targeted the IRIS Dena, a ship that had recently participated in a multinational training exercise hosted by the Indian Navy. This exercise involved 74 nations, including the United States, showcasing the extensive cooperation among global maritime forces.
Video footage from the Pentagon revealed the moment the U.S. submarine launched the torpedo, resulting in the swift sinking of the Iranian warship. Tragically, the vessel went down with 180 individuals on board, but the Sri Lankan navy managed to rescue 32 survivors from the wreckage.
In a striking parallel to history, the USS Torsk had fired the last American torpedoes of World War II in 1945, sinking two Japanese defense frigates just before Japan’s surrender. Hegseth described the recent attack on the Iranian ship as a “quiet death,” emphasizing the precision and effectiveness of the Mark 48 torpedo used in the operation.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, commended the operation as a demonstration of America’s unparalleled global reach and military capabilities. The successful mission to locate and eliminate an adversary’s vessel in international waters showcased the United States’ strategic prowess on a large scale.
The Iranian warship, dubbed the “Soleimani,” bore the name of Qasem Soleimani, the Iranian general targeted and killed in a U.S. airstrike in Baghdad in 2020. Hegseth humorously remarked on the irony of sinking the ship named after Soleimani, suggesting that it was a symbolic victory following the earlier airstrike.
The Pentagon’s release of video footage depicting the precise moment of impact underscored the precision and effectiveness of the U.S. Navy’s submarine capabilities. This successful mission not only showcased American military prowess but also highlighted the ongoing strategic efforts to maintain peace and security in the region.
