US attack on Iranian frigate kills 87, Tehran warns of 'bitter regret'

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi disclosed Thursday that approximately 130 sailors were aboard the IRIS Dena frigate when it was attacked by US forces Wednesday off the coast of Sri Lanka, with at least 87 confirmed dead. In a social media post, Araghchi condemned what he termed an "atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran's shores," noting the vessel was struck in international waters without warning while returning from a multinational naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal.

Casualties and Recovery Operations

Sri Lankan authorities confirmed that 32 wounded sailors from the Moudge-class frigate are being treated at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital in Galle. A search and recovery operation continues in waters off the southern city for missing crew members. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed American forces conducted the attack on the vessel, which had participated in the Milan 2026 naval exercise and fleet review hosted by India last month.

Expanding Conflict

The strike on the Iranian warship represents a significant geographic expansion of the ongoing US-Israeli campaign against Iran, which began Saturday and has now killed at least 926 people, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and top military officials. Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and Gulf countries hosting US military assets. Araghchi's warning that "the U.S. will come to bitterly regret the precedent it has set" signals potential further escalation. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's Health Minister confirmed another Iranian vessel is currently within the nation's Exclusive Economic Zone, though not in territorial waters, with authorities taking measures to ensure safety and regional security.