More than 100 individuals are unaccounted for while 32 have been saved from an Iranian warship that reported being attacked by a submarine.

A collaborative rescue operation was initiated by Sri Lanka’s navy and air force on Wednesday following the grounding of the Iris Dena near Galle, a city on the southern coast of the country, officials confirmed.

A navy representative stated that the primary objective of the mission was to evacuate the ship’s crew members subsequent to a distress signal indicating a hit on the vessel. The Iris Dena, part of the Iranian Navy’s Southern Fleet, is a Moudge-class frigate.

It has been disclosed that approximately 180 personnel were onboard the Iris Dena when the incident occurred. The Iranian warship had participated in the MILAN 2026 multinational naval drills in Visakhapatnam, India.

The vessel is believed to have sustained underwater damage, raising concerns that it may have been struck by a torpedo during the incident.

A senior Sri Lankan official confirmed that 32 individuals have been rescued and are currently receiving medical attention. Dr. Anil Jasinghe reported that one individual is in critical condition, seven are undergoing urgent treatment, while the rest are being treated for minor injuries.

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath informed Parliament that Sri Lanka was alerted by the distress call from the ship IRIS Dena, prompting the dispatch of naval vessels and air force aircraft for the rescue operation.