More than 200 Iranian sailors stranded after US torpedo attack return home
More than 200 Iranian sailors stranded after US torpedo attack return home
After more than a month in Sri Lanka, over 200 Iranian sailors who were left adrift following a US submarine attack have departed the country. The exodus was confirmed by Sri Lanka’s Deputy Defence Minister, Aruna Jayasekara, who stated that 32 crew members from the Iris Dena and 206 from the Irins Bushehr were evacuated on Tuesday. The two ships, part of Iran’s naval fleet, had been involved in a dramatic incident that escalated tensions in the region.
Air attack and rescue operation
The Iris Dena, an Iranian warship, sank on March 4 near Sri Lanka’s southern coast after a US submarine’s torpedo struck it, resulting in 104 crew deaths. The surviving sailors were rescued by Sri Lanka, which also took control of the Irins Bushehr after it requested to dock at a port following an engine failure. The vessel remains anchored off Trincomalee, with about 15 Iranian sailors staying behind to manage its operations.
“The crew of both ships were flown out on Tuesday night,” Jayasekara said, highlighting the coordinated effort to secure the sailors’ safe return.
Humanitarian assistance and policy context
Sri Lanka granted the stranded sailors 30-day entry visas and provided temporary shelter in navy and air force camps. The country’s decision to assist was framed as a demonstration of its commitment to international conventions and neutrality, as noted by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. “Our position has been to safeguard our neutrality while demonstrating our humanitarian values,” he stated in a prior declaration. “We intervened in a way that protected the dignity of our nation and human lives.”
Escalating regional tensions
The attack occurred just days into the current US-Israeli conflict with Iran, marking a significant expansion of hostilities. Iran has since responded with targeted strikes across the Middle East, hitting allied Gulf nations of the United States. The US released footage of the incident, showing the ship being struck and its stern lifting before a blast tore through the vessel. The bodies of 84 sailors were later recovered and repatriated via a chartered plane organized by Iran.
Sri Lanka has upheld its long-standing policy of non-alignment since gaining independence in 1948. The nation maintains strong economic and diplomatic ties with both Iran and the US, allowing it to navigate the geopolitical situation without direct alignment. The evacuation of the sailors underscores this balancing act, as the country remains a neutral ground in a broader conflict.
