On March 04, 2026, off the coast of Sri Lanka, the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena was sunk by a US submarine using a Mark 48 torpedo. This attack took place approximately 40 nautical miles from the city of Galle, as the Iranian vessel was reportedly returning to Iran after participating in naval drills in southeastern India. The strike resulted in the loss of 87 lives among the Iranian crew, while the Sri Lankan Navy managed to rescue 32 crew members. The attack has raised concerns in Sri Lanka regarding the security of the remaining crew and the implications for regional stability, especially as the island nation fosters good relations with both Iran and Israel. Furthermore, the act has had ramifications on local panic buying of essential commodities due to the outbreak of war in the Middle East impacting the tourism industry. US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and military experts highlighted the significance of this incident, noting it marked the first time a ship had been sunk by a torpedo since World War II, despite there having been prior instances of naval ships being attacked in such a manner in recent modern conflicts.