Iranian Warship's Sister Vessel Evacuates 200+ Crew in Sri Lanka After Engine Failure

Iranian Navy Ship Evacuates Crew in Sri Lanka Amid Rising Tensions

In the wake of a dramatic U.S. submarine torpedo attack that sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, a second Iranian vessel has now offloaded more than 200 crew members to Sri Lanka after experiencing a significant engine failure at sea.

IRIS Bushehr Brought Into Colombo Port

The IRIS Bushehr, identified in Iranian state media as a naval logistics vessel, was brought into the port of Colombo on Friday. According to Sri Lanka Navy spokesman Commander Buddhika Sampath, the sailors were subsequently transferred to a naval base in Welisara after undergoing medical examinations and completing immigration procedures.

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake addressed the situation on Thursday, acknowledging the unusual nature of the circumstances.

"We have to understand that this is not an ordinary situation," Dissanayake stated. "It's a request by a ship belonging to one party to enter into our port. We have to consider that according to the international treaties and conventions."

The president confirmed that authorities made the decision to take control of the IRIS Bushehr following consultations with Iranian officials and the vessel's captain, after one of its engines failed. A portion of the crew will remain aboard to assist the Sri Lankan Navy in navigating the ship to the port of Trincomalee, located on the island's northeastern coast approximately 165 miles from Colombo.

Background: U.S. Submarine Sinks Iranian Warship

These developments follow the U.S. Navy's sinking of the Iranian warship IRIS Dena off the coast of Sri Lanka on Wednesday — an event that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth described as "the first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II."

Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine confirmed at a Pentagon briefing that the Iranian vessel was "effectively neutralized" through a Navy fast attack using a single Mark 48 torpedo, stating that the U.S. Navy achieved "immediate effect, sending the warship to the bottom of the sea."

Search and Rescue Operations Launched

Following the attack, India's Navy announced Thursday that it had launched search and rescue operations after receiving a distress signal from the Dena, deploying two aircraft alongside a sailing training vessel. However, by the time Indian forces mobilized, the Sri Lankan Navy had already commenced its own rescue mission. According to the Associated Press, Sri Lankan naval forces rescued 32 sailors and recovered 87 bodies in the aftermath of the attack.

Iran Issues Strong Warning to the United States

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi responded sharply to the sinking, posting a pointed message on X condemning the strike as an act of aggression.

"The U.S. has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran's shores," Araqchi wrote. "Frigate Dena, a guest of India's Navy carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck in international waters without warning."

He added a stern warning: "Mark my words: The U.S. will come to bitterly regret the precedent it has set."

The dual incidents — the sinking of the IRIS Dena and the engine failure aboard the IRIS Bushehr — have significantly escalated tensions in the region, drawing international attention to the growing military confrontation between the United States and Iran in Indian Ocean waters.