Around 140 people are feared missing after an Iranian navy ship sank off the coast of Sri Lanka early Wednesday, as tensions across the Middle East continued to intensify with fresh strikes, missile interceptions and evacuation efforts.
Sri Lanka’s navy said it rescued 32 people after receiving a distress call from the Iranian vessel ‘IRIS Dena’. Navy spokesman Budhika Sampath said the ship went down about 40 nautical miles off the coast, within Sri Lanka’s search and rescue region.
“Though it was beyond our waters, it was within our search and rescue region. So we were obliged to respond as per international obligations,” he said.
According to ship documents, around 180 people were believed to be on board. Officials said they saw oil patches and floating lifeboats at the scene, but no sign of the vessel itself. The cause of the sinking remains unknown, and Sri Lankan authorities rejected reports suggesting a submarine attack.
The incident comes as the conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States entered its fifth day, with violence spreading across several countries.
Israel said it had launched a new wave of strikes across Tehran, targeting what it described as “security headquarters” and regime infrastructure. Images from the Iranian capital showed several buildings reduced to rubble. Residents described fear and exhaustion amid repeated explosions.
A planned three-day state funeral for Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, reportedly killed in an Israeli strike on Saturday, has been postponed, according to Iranian state media. Speculation is growing over his successor, with reports saying his son Mojtaba Khamenei survived recent attacks.
In Lebanon, Israel ordered civilians south of the Litani River to evacuate immediately ahead of military action against Hezbollah. Strikes were also reported in Beirut’s outskirts, including damage to a hotel in Hazmieh. The Israeli military said it was targeting Hezbollah operatives and facilities.
Elsewhere, Saudi Arabia reported an attempted drone attack on the Ras Tanura oil refinery, believed to be the kingdom’s largest. The Saudi defence ministry said the drone caused no damage.
Kuwait said it was intercepting a wave of missiles and drones, while Turkey’s defence ministry said Nato air defences shot down an Iranian missile heading towards Turkish airspace. No casualties were reported.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations also reported that a container ship was struck by an “unknown projectile” in the Strait of Hormuz, causing a fire in its engine room. No environmental damage was reported and investigations are ongoing.
Amid significant flight disruptions, countries are working to evacuate their nationals from the region. The UK confirmed that a repatriation flight from Muscat, Oman, is scheduled to depart at 23:00 local time.
As missile exchanges and airstrikes continue across Iran, Lebanon and neighbouring states, fears are mounting that the conflict could widen further across the region.
With inputs from BBC