VIDEO: Pentagon footage shows moment US strike destroyed Iranian warship

Dramatic footage released by the Pentagon shows the moment a United States submarine torpedoed and destroyed an Iranian warship in international waters off the coast of Sri Lanka, leaving dozens feared dead.

The Iranian naval vessel, identified as the Dena, was reportedly operating far from Iranian territory when it was struck by a torpedo fired from a US submarine. Video shared by the US military shows the warship sailing at sea moments before a massive explosion tears through one side of the vessel, engulfing it in flames and smoke.

Sri Lankan naval authorities said they first received a distress signal from the vessel on Wednesday local time. According to preliminary reports, about 180 sailors were believed to be on board at the time of the strike.

Rescue operations have recovered several survivors, but officials say at least 87 sailors were killed in the explosion while around 60 remain unaccounted for.

The attack took place in international waters near Sri Lanka, a location far from Iranian territory, adding to tensions amid an already volatile regional security situation.

The United States has not released further operational details about the strike, though the Pentagon’s video appears intended to demonstrate the precision and impact of the submarine attack.

The incident comes at a time of heightened military confrontation involving Iran and its regional adversaries, with analysts warning that such clashes at sea could further escalate tensions across the wider region.