US denies IRIS Dena was unarmed , says US forces planned for Sri Lanka s life-saving support to survivors

The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) has denied allegations that the Iranian warship ‘IRIS Dena’, which sank during a submarine strike near Sri Lankan waters, was unarmed. They stated that the ship was a valid military target according to the Law of Armed Conflict. In a message posted on X (formerly Twitter), INDOPACOM called Iran’s assertion that the IRIS Dena was unarmed ‘false’. They emphasized that international law permits the targeting and destruction of legitimate military targets. Additionally, they mentioned that "U.S. forces planned for and Sri Lanka provided life-saving support to survivors in line with the Law of Armed Conflict." This statement follows Iran's strong rejection of the U.S. claims, with Iran asserting that the sunken warship was indeed ‘unarmed’. Saeed Khatibzadeh, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, who is currently in India, stated that the IRIS Dena was not in a combat-ready state and was returning home after taking part in the Milan multilateral naval exercise held in India. He labeled the U.S. action as a ‘serious violation of international law.’ The incident happened while the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena was on its way back after the naval exercise. Reports indicate that at least 87 Iranian sailors lost their lives in the incident, marking a significant rise in tensions between the United States and Iran outside the Persian Gulf. Meanwhile, 32 Iranians rescued from the IRIS Dena by the Sri Lanka Navy were taken to Karapitiya Hospital in Galle. There were about 180 people on board the Iranian Navy ship when it faced trouble approximately 40 nautical miles off the coast of Galle.