Shadow War Hits Indian Ocean As Iranian Frigate IRIS Dena Sunk Off Sri Lankan Coast | Exclusive Details | World News
Last Updated:March 04, 2026, 18:42 IST Top Indian intelligence and maritime experts are raising alarms over the implications for New Delhi’s economic and energy security Sri Lankan Navy and Defence Ministry sources describe the sinking as a ‘classic submarine torpedo attack’. (File image) In a dramatic and lethal escalation of the broadening West Asia conflict, the Iranian Navy frigate IRIS Dena was sunk in the early hours of March 4, approximately 40 nautical miles south of Galle, Sri Lanka. The incident marks the first major naval casualty of the US-Israel-Iran war within the deep waters of the Indian Ocean, with intelligence sources telling CNN-News18 that this signals a dangerous “spillover” into India’s primary maritime backyard. The IRIS Dena was transiting homeward via the standard westward routing following its high-profile participation in India’s MILAN 2026 multinational naval exercise and International Fleet Review in Visakhapatnam just weeks ago. Sri Lankan Navy and Defence Ministry sources describe the sinking as a “classic submarine torpedo attack”. Distress calls were intercepted between 5.08 am and 5.30 am local time, reporting …


