US naval strike on Iran vessel widens conflict footprint

A US submarine torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka on Wednesday, the Pentagon confirmed, as the conflict launched by the United States and Israel spread to new regions.

The Middle East situation also intensified, with Iran striking ethnic militias in Iraq—causing a nationwide blackout as evening fell—and Israel issuing new evacuation orders while conducting strikes around Beirut in response to Hezbollah attacks.

Off Sri Lanka, the Iranian IRIS Dena frigate, which had been on a friendly visit to India, was sunk by a US submarine—the first such torpedoing since World War II.

“The vessel thought it was safe in international waters,” US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said, describing the strike as a “quiet death” and adding, “We are fighting to win.”

Sri Lankan officials reported at least 87 deaths, with 61 personnel still missing, while 32 sailors, many wounded, were rescued, according to the foreign minister, Vijitha Herath.

The United States and Israel have been carrying out sustained strikes against Iran since Saturday, when Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed. Iran’s IRNA reported 1,045 military and civilian deaths, a figure AFP could not independently verify.

In retaliation, Iran launched missiles and drones across the region, with its Revolutionary Guards announcing on Wednesday that they had taken “complete control” of the Strait of Hormuz, through which a quarter of the world’s crude oil passes. Oil tanker transits through the strait fell by 90 per cent, according to market intelligence firm Kpler.

Iranian strikes also caused fear and disruption in Gulf cities, including Dubai and Riyadh.

Missile over Turkey

A missile launched from Iran was destroyed by NATO air defences while heading towards Turkey’s airspace, drawing condemnation from Ankara and NATO. A Turkish official later told AFP that the missile had “veered off course” and was aimed at a British base in Cyprus.

Turkey summoned the Iranian ambassador, and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned Tehran in a phone call to avoid steps that could escalate the conflict.

Iran strikes in Iraq

Iran struck northern Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region, killing a member of an exiled Iranian Kurdish group, amid reports that the United States was arming guerrillas to infiltrate Iran. Two additional pro-Iran fighters were killed in a separate strike on their base. Iraq subsequently experienced a total electricity blackout, although the cause remains unclear.

Escalation in Lebanon

In Lebanon, where Hezbollah has entered the conflict, strikes have killed 75 people and displaced over 83,000 since fighting began, officials said Wednesday. Israel ordered evacuations south of the Litani River, citing the need to target Hezbollah positions.

French President Emmanuel Macron called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging the preservation of Lebanon’s territorial integrity. Israeli air strikes hit a hotel in Hazmieh, marking the first reported attack on Beirut’s predominantly Christian suburbs near the presidential palace.

Iran warned that Israeli embassies worldwide could become targets if its missions in Lebanon were attacked.

Missile and drone threats in Gulf nations

Saudi Arabia intercepted cruise missiles and drones aimed at its Ras Tanura refinery. Drones had also struck near the US consulate in Dubai, while a missile targeted the US base at Al-Udeid in Qatar. Both the UAE and Qatar reported intercepting drone and missile attacks, with Abu Dhabi noting 129 drones were launched, eight of which got through.

Kuwait reported civilian casualties, including the death of an 11-year-old girl from shrapnel. Since the start of the conflict, 13 people, seven of whom are civilians, have been killed in Gulf countries. The Pentagon confirmed six US service members had died, four in Kuwait.

Qatar’s premier, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticised Iran for dragging Gulf nations into “a war that is not theirs.”

The United States advised Americans to leave the region if possible, though commercial flights remain disrupted, while Britain and France arranged charter flights to evacuate their citizens.