HomeAUU.S. Launches Historic Strike on Iranian Warship, Marking First Torpedo Use Since...

U.S. Launches Historic Strike on Iranian Warship, Marking First Torpedo Use Since WWII

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The US sank an Iranian warship in international waters, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday (Thursday morning AEDT), as it intensified its bombardment with Israel of Iran’s security forces and other symbols of power.
Tehran vowed to completely destroy the Middle East‘s military and economic infrastructure — signalling the war was nowhere near over and could expand further.
Pete Hegseth
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a press briefing at the Pentagon, Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Konstantin Toropin)

Back in 1989, the funeral for Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini drew millions of mourners, marking a significant moment in history.

Recently, commentator Pete Hegseth mentioned that a US submarine had torpedoed and sunk an Iranian warship. Although he didn’t specify the vessel’s name, it coincided with reports of an Iranian ship sinking off Sri Lanka’s coast.

During a briefing at the Pentagon, Hegseth revealed that this strike on an Iranian warship was the first of its kind by the US since the end of World War II.

“An American submarine engaged an Iranian warship that mistakenly believed it was secure in international waters,” stated Hegseth.

“However, it was ultimately taken down by a torpedo,” he concluded.

Operation EPIC FURY Timeline - First 100 Hours
A Dept. of Defence map entitled, Operation EPIC FURY Timeline – First 100 Hours, is displayed during a news conference with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, at the Pentagon, Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Washington (AP Photo/Konstantin Toropin)

Sri Lankan authorities said 32 people were rescued from the Iranian ship and that others died.

In addition to striking Tehran on the fifth day of the conflict, Israel hit the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, while Iran fired on Bahrain, Kuwait and Israel.

As the conflict spiralled, Turkey said NATO defences intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Iran before it entered Turkey’s airspace.

This image provided by U.S. Central Command shows aircraft on the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) that are operating in support of the war in Iran, on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (U.S. Navy via AP) (AP)

The war has killed more than 1000 people in Iran and dozens in Lebanon, while disrupting the supply of the world’s oil and gas, snarling international shipping, and stranding hundreds of thousands of travellers in the Middle East.

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