An American submarine sank an Iranian warship named the Soleimani in the Indian Ocean overnight — the first such US attack on a member of an enemy fleet since World War II, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday.
The “quiet death” strike on Iran’s prized vessel, the IRIS Shahid Soleimani, unfolded late Tuesday off the southern coast of Sri Lanka, Hegseth said, telling reporters during a Pentagon briefing that the ship “thought it was safe in international waters.”
“Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo. The first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II,” Hegseth added. “Like in that war, back when we were still the War Department, we are fighting to win.”
This frame grab from a video released on March 4, 2026, shows what the US Department of Defense says is periscope footage of a US Navy submarine firing on and sinking an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean. US Department of Defense/AFP via Getty Images
The “quiet death” strike on Iran’s prized Soleimani vessel unfolded late Tuesday off the southern coast of Sri Lanka, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said. US Department of Defense/AFP via Getty ImagesThe Pentagon released video of the strike soon after Hegseth spoke.
“The Iranian navy rests at the bottom of the Persian Gulf,” the secretary added. “Combat ineffective, decimated, destroyed, defeated. Pick your adjective.”
A single Mark 48 torpedo was used in the strike, according to Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Sri Lanka’s navy has confirmed it responded to signals that the ship was in distress and sinking late Tuesday.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine speak during a press briefing at the Pentagon, Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Washington, DC. APThe vessel had already sunk by the time the island nation’s ships reached the location — leaving behind oil patches and life rafts, according to navy spokesman Commander Buddhika Sampath.
Follow The Post’s coverage on the latest in the peace deal with Iran:
- Fed-up Trump threatens to ‘blow the s–t’ out of Iran — prompting Tehran to storm out of US peace talks
- Vance suggests US, Iran could ‘transform’ relationship but Tehran officials insist they’re not making friends: ‘Primary option is jihad’
- Trump vows to ‘hit Iran very hard again’ if Tehran doesn’t rein in Hezbollah
- Strait of Hormuz closing again, IRGC announces — as US Central Command says commercial traffic has ‘increased’
“We found people floating on the water,” he said.
At least 32 people were rescued and taken to a nearby hospital as search and rescue operations continued, the officials said, adding that others had died without giving a precise number.
A Department of Defense map titled “Operation EPIC FURY Timeline – First 100 Hours” is displayed during a news conference at the Pentagon on March 4, 2026, in Washington, DC. Department of WarSri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told the country’s lawmakers that 180 people were on board the Iranian vessel at the time of the strike.
The ship, which was listed as taking part in a naval drill held in the Bay of Bengal Feb. 18-25, was equipped to carry one helicopter and was armed with heavy guns, surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles and torpedoes.
Sri Lanka is approximately a three-hour flight from the joint US-UK base on the island of Diego Garcia, which has been used to stage bomber runs during the five-day war with Iran.
With Post wires
