Breaking News: PENTAGON DECLARES "AMERICA IS WINNING" AS IRANIAN WARSHIP IRIS DENA SINKS OFF SRI LANKA
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, in a high-stakes briefing at the Pentagon today, declared that the United States is winning the war on Iran "decisively, devastatingly, and without mercy." Speaking as "Operation Epic Fury" enters its fifth day, Hegseth announced that the U.S. and Israel are on track to achieve "complete control of Iranian skies" within the week.
THE STATEMENT: "OUR RULES ARE BOLD"
Time of Statement: 1:12 PM GMT (8:12 AM ET), March 4, 2026.
The Message: Hegseth characterized the campaign as a "generational turning point" intended to permanently dismantle Iran's ability to project power.
Objectives: He reiterated the mission's "laser-focus": destroy all offensive missiles, eliminate missile production, and "destroy their navy."
Warning: Addressing the Iranian regime, he noted, "The regime who chanted 'Death to America' was gifted death from America."
THE MARITIME STRIKE: SINKING OF THE IRIS DENA
In a major expansion of the conflict’s geography, a U.S. submarine reportedly struck and sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka early this morning.
Vessel Name: IRIS Dena (Moudge-class/Jamaran-class frigate)
The Incident: * Time: The ship issued a distress call around 6:00 AM (12:30 GMT) while approximately 25–40 nautical miles south of Galle, Sri Lanka.
Status: The vessel has sunk. U.S. officials confirmed to Reuters that a U.S. military submarine carried out the strike.
Casualties: Reports indicate at least 101 crew members are missing, 1 is confirmed dead, and 32 to 79 have been rescued by the Sri Lankan Navy and hospitalized.
Vessel Specifications (IRIS Dena):
Class: Jamaran-class (also known as Moudge-class) corvette/frigate.
Displacement: Approximately 1,500 tonnes.
Dimensions: 95 meters in length; 11 meters beam.
Armament: * Anti-Ship: 4–8 C-802 (Noor) anti-ship missiles.
Anti-Air: 4 Sayyad-2 surface-to-air missiles.
Guns: 76mm Fajr-27 naval gun and 40mm Fath anti-aircraft gun.
Subsurface: Two triple 324mm torpedo launchers.
Crew: Approximately 140–180 personnel.
BACKGROUND: OPERATION EPIC FURY
The conflict began on Saturday, February 28, 2026, following a joint U.S.-Israeli strike that killed Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and 40 senior officials. Since then, the U.S. military has struck over 2,000 targets across Iran, including the IRGC headquarters and other major naval assets like the drone carrier Shahid Bagheri. Hegseth emphasized today that this is not a war of "nation-building" but a surgical mission to ensure Iran "will never have nuclear weapons."
