Iran–Israel War Expands Into Indian Ocean; Sinking of Iranian Warship Near Sri Lanka Raises Concerns for India

Promoted as the first major naval casualty in the indian Ocean since the Second World War, the attack by the US on IRIS Dena brought the Iran Crisis strangely close to home. And a 2016 deal with the US isn’t helping.

The coordinated action of the US and Israel against Iran has fast emerged as a watershed moment for security dynamics in the Middle East. On March 4, the US Department of War confirmed that a torpedo launched by an American submarine sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena off the coast of Sri Lanka, near Indian waters in the Indian Ocean. This attack has introduced a new naval dimension into the conflict, which has thus far remained limited to air power. Touted as the first major naval casualty in the Indian Ocean since the Second World War, the attack by the US on the Iranian warship is significant in many ways for the security dynamics in the indian ocean, as well as for India’s own interest in the region.

The Iranian frigate IRIS Dena was sunk on Wednesday after a torpedo fired by a US submarine struck the vessel in international waters within Sri Lanka’s search and rescue zone. The Sri Lankan government said the navy recovered 87 bodies and rescued 32 sailors after responding to a distress call from the ship.

The incident occurred roughly 40 kilometres south of the port city of Galle, far from the Persian Gulf, where much of the current conflict between Iran and US-backed forces has been concentrated.

And I think the Government of Sri Lanka must answer to the people of Sri Lanka and to the rest of the world whether they were aware of this  particular attack on this vessel or they were kept on guard,” he told NDTV.

Rajapaksa said the development should prompt broader discussion among South Asian countries, including India, on security in the Indian Ocean.

He said on this goverment of India and also the South Asian region, have to come together resolve this particular incident very seriously,” he told this to NDTV.

So this is something that the region has to bring up together.

Also Read / U.S. Says It Destroyed IRGC Headquarters in Strike, Releases Dramatic Video as Evidence.