U.S. Pacific Command recognizes Sri Lanka acted according to international law

• Declines to accept the claim that the Iranian warship IRIS Dena was unarmed  

By Kelum Bandara

The US Indo-Pacific Command has recognized that Sri Lanka provided life-saving support to survivors of the Iranian warship IRIS Dena in accordance with the Law of Armed Conflict or the International Humanitarian Law.   

However, it has declined to accept the claim that the ship was unarmed. The Indo-Pacific Command asserted that the Law of Armed Conflict authorises the use of force to target and destroy valid military targets.  The Iranian frigate IRIS Dena was struck by a torpedo fired from a US submarine in international waters around 40 nautical miles off Sri Lanka’s southern coast near Galle on March 4. The incident took place well within Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone.   

Eighty-seven bodies were recovered, while 32 sailors were rescued alive. Dozens of others remained missing.   

 US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth who confirmed the strike said, “An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo, “ he said.   

Another Iranian ship, identified as IRIS Bushehr, reported engine trouble while positioned outside Sri Lankan waters and requested assistance. Sri Lanka agreed to allow the vessel to dock and took custody of it.  Sri Lanka rescued 204 sailors from the Bushehr.