WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — A U.S. Navy fast attack submarine sank an Iranian warship near Sri Lanka in a dramatic strike that military leaders called a historic show of force. The target was the IRIS Dena, a Moudge-class frigate operated by Iran’s navy. Officials said a single Mk-48 torpedo destroyed the ship, sending it to the bottom of the Indian Ocean.

The attack marks the first time since 1945 that a U.S. Navy submarine has sunk an enemy combatant ship with a torpedo. The strike took place nearly 1,000 miles from Iranian waters, highlighting what U.S. leaders described as America’s global naval reach.

The IRIS Dena had been sailing near the southern coast of Sri Lanka. Reports from the U.S. Naval Institute said the ship had taken part in a naval drill in the Bay of Bengal before the incident.

Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine spoke at a Pentagon press briefing alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Caine called the strike a turning point in modern naval warfare.

“For the first time since 1945, a United States Navy fast attack submarine has sunk an enemy combatant ship using a single Mk-48 torpedo,” Caine said. “This is an incredible demonstration of America’s global reach.”

The Department of War released infrared footage of the attack. The video showed a powerful explosion at the stern of the Iranian frigate. Moments later, the ship’s bow lifted into the air before it sank beneath the waves.

Sri Lanka’s navy responded quickly after the explosion. Cmdr. Buddhika Sampath, the Navy’s media director, said rescue crews saved 32 survivors from the water.

“We have been able to rescue 32 survivors, and still we are doing the search and rescue operations in that particular area,” Sampath said.

Sri Lankan officials told NDTV News that search teams did not locate the wreckage. They did recover several bodies during the operation. As of Wednesday morning, at least 101 crew members remained missing.

The sinking has raised tensions across the Indian Ocean region. The area serves as a major shipping route and strategic naval corridor.

The IRIS Dena was not an outdated vessel. The Moudge-class frigate carried heavy deck guns, surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles, and torpedoes, according to The Associated Press. Military analysts described the ship as a capable and modern warship within Iran’s fleet.

The loss deals a serious blow to Iran’s naval strength. Iranian officials have not released detailed casualty figures or an official response.

The last similar event occurred during the 1982 Falklands War. In that conflict, the British submarine HMS Conqueror sank the Argentine cruiser ARA General Belgrano. That attack marked the only other time since World War II that a submarine torpedo sank a warship in combat.

U.S. officials said this latest strike adds a new chapter to naval history. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signaled that the operation forms part of a broader campaign.

“We have only just begun to hunt, dismantle, demoralize, destroy, and defeat their capabilities,” Hegseth said.

Military officials confirmed that Operation Epic Fury has already neutralized at least 17 Iranian naval vessels. Leaders described the campaign as a coordinated effort to weaken Iran’s maritime forces.

Officials did not release the name of the U.S. submarine involved in the strike. They also did not provide details about the precise location of the attack, citing operational security.

The sinking of the IRIS Dena underscores the evolving role of submarines in modern naval warfare. Fast attack submarines operate with stealth and precision. They can strike targets far from home waters without warning.

Security experts say the event may reshape naval strategy in the region. The Indian Ocean has become a key arena for global military presence and trade security.

For now, search and rescue teams continue their work off Sri Lanka’s coast. Families await news about the missing sailors. Meanwhile, U.S. military leaders say they remain committed to maintaining dominance at sea.