US strikes Iranian frigate IRIS Dina near Indian water; 140 missing

COLOMBO: The US Department of Defense released footage showing the US Navy striking and sinking the Iranian naval frigate IRIS Dina near Indian waters. The ship, a Moudge-class frigate, was returning to Iran from the Milan 2026 International Fleet Review in Vishakapatnam, India, when it went down.

Sri Lankan authorities said around 140 of the 180 crew members remain missing as a large-scale rescue operation continues in the Indian Ocean. Thirty survivors were rescued, some with serious injuries, including broken bones, burns, and cuts.

The Ship and Its Capabilities

The 95-metre, 1,500-ton IRIS Dina, part of Iran’s 86th naval fleet, was armed with Noor and Qader anti-ship missiles, a 76 mm Fajr 27 naval gun, and a 30 mm weapons system. Since 2022, the vessel had completed nearly 65,000 kilometres of global operations and was considered a symbol of Iran’s naval strength.

Circumstances of the Sinking

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister W.J. Herath told parliament that the ship sent an emergency signal early Wednesday, prompting the rescue operation. The cause of the sinking has not been independently verified.

An opposition lawmaker raised the possibility the vessel may have been targeted amid ongoing U.S. and Israeli operations against Iran, but authorities have not commented.

Participation in Regional Exercise

According to India’s Eastern Naval Command, the ship had been in the region to participate in the joint naval exercise IRFN & Milan 2026.