Over 200 Iranian Sailors Stranded in Sri Lanka After US Torpedo Attack Return Home

More than 200 Iranian sailors stranded in Sri Lanka following a US torpedo attack on the Iranian warship Iris Dena have departed after over a month of stay.

Sri Lanka's Deputy Defence Minister, Aruna Jayasekara, confirmed that 32 sailors rescued from the Iris Dena and 206 from the Irins Bushehr were flown out on Tuesday night.

The Iris Dena sank on 4 March about 40km from Sri Lanka's southern coastline after being hit by a torpedo from a US submarine, killing 104 sailors.

The Irins Bushehr had docked in Sri Lanka on 5 March after requesting port access due to an engine malfunction.

The stranded sailors were granted 30-day entry visas by the Sri Lankan government and housed in navy and air force camps during their stay.

The bodies of 84 sailors killed in the attack were recovered and repatriated to Iran on a chartered plane.

The sinking of the Iris Dena occurred in international waters shortly after the outbreak of the US-Israeli war with Iran, marking a significant escalation in the conflict.

Iran has since launched retaliatory strikes targeting Gulf countries allied with the US.

Sri Lanka allowed the Irins Bushehr to dock after extensive discussions, with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasizing the country's commitment to neutrality and humanitarian values.

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