US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday that a US submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean using a torpedo, as the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran entered its fifth day.
Speaking at the Pentagon, Hegseth said the Iranian vessel “thought it was safe in international waters” but was destroyed by a US torpedo strike. He did not name the ship.
Earlier, Sri Lanka’s navy reported that an Iranian naval ship, identified as IRIS Dena, went down off the coast of Galle after issuing a distress call. Authorities said 32 people were rescued, while around 140 are believed to be missing. According to ship documentation, about 180 people were on board. Sri Lankan officials initially said the cause of the sinking was unknown and rejected reports of a submarine attack.
At the Pentagon briefing, Hegseth described the US campaign as decisive and warned of further military action. “More and larger waves are coming. We are just getting started,” he said, adding that the Iranian regime’s military capabilities were being systematically dismantled.
He also claimed that Iran had attempted to assassinate US President Donald Trump and said the US had killed the leader of the unit allegedly responsible. No further details were immediately provided.
When asked about reports of a strike on a girls’ school in Minab that Iran says killed at least 153 people, including children, Hegseth said the US was investigating and insisted that American forces do not target civilians.
Meanwhile, Israel said it struck “security headquarters” and other regime-linked infrastructure across Tehran as joint US-Israeli air operations continued. Images from the Iranian capital showed extensive damage to residential and public buildings.
In Lebanon, the Israeli military ordered civilians south of the Litani River to evacuate immediately ahead of planned military operations against Hezbollah. Heavy gunfire was reported near the Israel-Lebanon border, and strikes were reported in Beirut’s outskirts.
Elsewhere in the region, Saudi Arabia reported an attempted drone attack on the Ras Tanura oil refinery, believed to be the country’s largest. Authorities said the drone caused no damage. Kuwait said it was intercepting a wave of incoming missiles and drones, while Turkey’s defence ministry said Nato air defences shot down an Iranian missile heading toward Turkish airspace.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency also said a container ship was hit by an “unknown projectile” in the Strait of Hormuz, causing a fire in its engine room. No environmental damage was reported.
Amid escalating violence and widespread flight disruptions, several countries are working to evacuate their citizens from the region. The UK confirmed that a government-arranged repatriation flight will depart from Muscat later on Wednesday night.
With missile exchanges, airstrikes and naval engagements unfolding across multiple fronts, concerns are growing that the conflict could expand further across the Middle East.
With inputs from BBC