Tuesday, 02 January 2024 12:17 GMT

Sri Lanka Rescues 30 from Grounded Iranian Frigate


(MENAFN) Sri Lanka's navy and air force launched a joint emergency rescue operation Wednesday after an Iranian naval vessel ran aground off the island nation's southern coast near the city of Galle, officials confirmed.

The stricken ship, IRIS Dena, came to rest within Sri Lankan territorial waters, triggering an immediate coordinated response from the Sri Lanka Navy and the Sri Lanka Air Force, media reported, citing a navy official.

A navy spokesperson said the rescue operation was initiated after the vessel transmitted a distress call reporting it had been struck. The mission prioritized the evacuation of crew members from the grounded frigate.

IRIS Dena is a Moudge-class frigate assigned to the Southern Fleet of the Iranian Navy. At the time of the incident, an estimated 180 personnel were believed to be aboard the vessel.

Thirty crew members were successfully rescued and subsequently admitted to Karapitiya Hospital in Galle, authorities said.

The warship had most recently participated in the MILAN 2026 multinational naval exercise and fleet review held in Visakhapatnam, India, before the grounding occurred.

The incident adds another dimension to an already turbulent period for Iran's naval forces, which have been operating under intense pressure amid the ongoing US-Israeli military campaign that has already claimed 17 Iranian naval vessels, according to US Central Command.

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