Survivors of IRIS Dena Receive Medical Care in Sri Lanka; 10 Sailors Remain Hospitalized
22 Iranian sailors discharged in Sri Lanka after IRIS Dena torpedo attack; 10 remain under treatment.
Twenty-two sailors from the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena have been discharged from the National Hospital Galle after being treated for injuries sustained when the ship was torpedoed by a US submarine off Sri Lanka’s southern coast. Another ten sailors remain under medical care at the hospital in Karapitiya.
Hospital authorities said the discharged sailors were transported under heavy security by ambulances to the Sri Lanka Air Force facility at Koggala outside Galle. The injured personnel had been admitted on Wednesday following the sinking of the IRIS Dena, which occurred as the vessel was returning from Visakhapatnam, India, after participating in a naval fleet review exercise.
Sri Lankan authorities reported earlier that 84 Iranian sailors had died in the attack. Their bodies were recovered and post-mortems were completed on March 5 in Galle. Of the 84 deceased, 80 were positively identified by survivors. Steps are reportedly being taken by Sri Lankan authorities to repatriate the remains, though adverse conditions have delayed immediate transportation by air or sea.
Also Read: Iranian Frigate IRIS Dena Sends Distress Signal; 30 Injured Sailors Brought Ashore In Sri Lanka
The crew of another Iranian ship, IRIS Bushehr, is currently stationed at a naval facility in Welisara, near Colombo. Decisions on their repatriation are still pending. Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath stated that the government will follow all relevant international laws in managing the situation.
The incident has raised regional concerns, as the IRIS Dena was attacked during peacetime operations, underscoring the sensitive nature of naval movements in the Indian Ocean. Sri Lankan authorities continue to coordinate with Iranian officials regarding the care and repatriation of survivors and the deceased.
Officials emphasize that security and legal protocols remain in place as the affected sailors are returned to Iranian authorities, while investigations into the circumstances surrounding the attack are ongoing.
Also Read: Sri Lanka President Thanks PM Modi for Cyclone Aid, Strengthens Ties at AI Summit
