Iran-US-Israel War Reaches Indian Ocean; Iranian Ship Attacked Off Sri Lanka Coast

The war between the United States, Israel, and Iran has crossed a dangerous new threshold, spreading into the Indian Ocean on the fifth day of hostilities as an Iranian merchant ship was struck by a submarine off the coast of Sri Lanka. The attack caused massive damage, sparked a large fire on board, and left dozens of sailors injured and several others missing at sea.

According to the Sri Lankan Navy, the Iranian merchant vessel was transiting near the island nation's coastline when it was suddenly struck — believed to be by a missile or torpedo — giving the crew virtually no time to respond. A large section of the ship caught fire, and the vessel was reported to be on the verge of sinking. The submarine's nationality has not been officially confirmed, but given the ongoing Operation Epic Fury, the strike is widely being linked to Israeli or US coalition action.

The Sri Lankan Navy responded swiftly, dispatching rescue and relief vessels to the scene. Thirty-two injured sailors have been evacuated and admitted to hospitals in the region. Several crew members remain missing, with a large-scale maritime search operation currently underway.

The United States has confirmed that its ongoing military campaign against Iran — named Operation Epic Fury — has thus far destroyed 17 Iranian ships, including a submarine, over the past five days. The operation involves more than 50,000 US troops, 200 fighter jets, and two large aircraft carriers, with the stated primary objectives of dismantling Iran's air defence systems, missile bases, and drone infrastructure.

US Central Command has maintained that Iran's capacity to retaliate is declining rapidly — a claim underscored by the reach of the operation now extending as far as the Indian Ocean.

The war's humanitarian consequences are accelerating. Lebanon's Social Affairs Minister Haneen Sayed has confirmed that approximately 65,000 people have been displaced by Israeli strikes and are sheltering in relief camps, with a further 10,000 to 20,000 still searching for safe passage. The minister noted that the trauma of the 2024 conflict — when the sounds of drones and explosions became part of daily life — is still vivid for Lebanon's population, deepening the psychological toll of the current crisis.

Amid fears of further escalation, Syria has closed its Jdeidet Yabous border crossing with Lebanon after Israel warned it could target the crossing. The closure has been applied to outbound civilian traffic for security reasons, though the crossing remains operational for those travelling from Lebanon into Syria on humanitarian grounds.