U.S. submarine TORPEDOES Iranian warship off Sri Lanka
By ramontomeydw // 2026-03-05
 
  • A U.S. submarine torpedoed and sunk the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena during Operation Epic Fury – the first such submarine attack since WWII. The vessel, armed with missiles and torpedoes, was struck in international waters off Sri Lanka while returning from an Indian naval exercise.
  • War Secretary Pete Hegseth hailed the attack as a decisive blow, but critics including former military officials questioned its legality, arguing the ship posed no imminent threat. Hegseth's prior dismissal of "stupid rules of engagement" suggests a broader strategy of dismantling Iran’s military regardless of legal constraints.
  • The strike is part of a widening U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran, with over 1,000 Iranian casualties reported. Simultaneously, Israel has intensified strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Turkey intercepted an Iranian missile near a NATO base, signaling escalating regional tensions.
  • Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz – a chokepoint for 20% of global oil – risks catastrophic economic fallout, including fuel shortages, hyperinflation and supply chain collapse. Analysts warn Tehran could weaponize the strait to hold the world economy hostage.
  • The attack echoes past miscalculations like the 1967 USS Liberty incident, but with higher stakes due to Iran's nuclear capabilities. The sinking of the IRIS Dena signals a dangerous new phase where regional clashes could spiral into a wider war with unpredictable consequences.
In a dramatic escalation of hostilities, a U.S. submarine torpedoed and sunk an Iranian warship during Operation Epic Fury, marking the first time since World War II that an American submarine has destroyed an enemy vessel in combat. War Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the strike on Wednesday, March 4, describing the attack on the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena as a "quiet death." The frigate's crew believed it was operating safely in international waters off the coast of Sri Lanka. According to The Guardian, the IRIS Dena was returning from a naval exercise organized by India in the Bay of Bengal when it was sunk. The attack on the frigate – equipped with surface-to-air missiles, torpedoes, and anti-ship weaponry – happened late Tuesday night, March 3, forming part of a broader U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran. However, it has raised urgent questions about the legality of targeting non-hostile naval assets and whether the conflict could spiral into a wider war. Sri Lankan officials reported rescuing 32 survivors while recovering 87 bodies from the wreckage. Meanwhile, the Department of War (DOW) released footage of the Mark 48 torpedo strike, showcasing the precision and lethality of the attack. Hegseth framed the operation as a decisive blow. "The Iranian Navy rests at the bottom of the Persian Gulf. Combat ineffective, decimated, destroyed, defeated," he told reporters on Wednesday. "Pick your adjective." Yet military analysts and former DOW officials warn that the strike may violate international law. Wes Bryant, a former Air Force targeting expert, questioned whether the IRIS Dena posed an imminent threat, calling the attack "an incredibly dangerous example of military overreach." The incident follows Hegseth's earlier admission that U.S. operations disregard "stupid rules of engagement," suggesting a broader strategy of dismantling Iran's military infrastructure regardless of legal constraints.

The sinking of IRIS Dena: Prelude to a wider war?

The conflict has already claimed over 1,000 Iranian lives, with U.S. airstrikes expanding deeper into Iranian territory. Meanwhile, Israel has intensified attacks on Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, and Turkey reported intercepting an Iranian missile near the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's Incirlik airbase. The Strait of Hormuz remains paralyzed, choking global oil supplies and threatening economic instability. According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, Iran's blockade of the Strait would choke off a critical global energy artery – triggering oil shortages, skyrocketing prices, and economic chaos worldwide. By weaponizing this vital choke point, Tehran could plunge markets into crisis, disrupt supply chains and reignite inflation. This effectively holds the world economy hostage, the decentralized engine adds. Historically, such escalations carry echoes of past conflicts where miscalculation led to catastrophe. The 1967 USS Liberty incident – where Israeli forces attacked a U.S. surveillance ship – nearly triggered a Cold War crisis. Today, the risk is even greater. Iran's nuclear capabilities and its insistence on holding on to its nuclear program could transform a regional skirmish into a global confrontation. The sinking of the IRIS Dena is more than a tactical victory. It is a harbinger of a volatile new chapter in global conflict – one where historical precedents warn of unintended consequences, and where the stakes have never been higher. Watch the Health Ranger Mike Adams discussing how President Donald Trump has ordered the U.S. Navy on a suicide mission in the Strait of Hormuz in this video. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: YourNews.com FoxNews.com TheGuardian.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com