The U. S. is urging Sri Lanka not to send back survivors from an Iranian warship that was recently sunk, along with the crew of another Iranian ship currently in Sri Lankan custody. An internal State Department cable revealed that a U. S. submarine sank the frigate Dena in the Indian Ocean near the southern port city of Galle, resulting in the deaths of many sailors and indicating an expansion of U. S. actions against the Iranian navy.
Sri Lanka has started offloading 208 crew members from the auxiliary vessel Booshehr, which was stranded in its exclusive economic zone. The President of Sri Lanka, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, stated that the country has a responsibility to care for the crew. Approximately 20 of the 32 Dena survivors were moved to a Sri Lankan air force camp after their hospital discharge.
The sinking of the Dena represents a significant military action by the U. S. since World War Two. The State Department cable stressed that Sri Lanka should not repatriate the crew of either the Booshehr or the Dena to Iran, as it could lead to Iranian propaganda efforts. A State Department spokesperson clarified that the U. S. respects Sri Lanka’s sovereignty in making decisions regarding the situation.
Discussions also took place about the possibility of the crew defecting. Meanwhile, Iran has requested assistance in repatriating the bodies of those who died aboard the Dena. The Dena was on its way back to Iran after participating in naval exercises and was armed when it was struck without warning. The Booshehr will remain under Sri Lankan custody for the duration of the conflict, with authorities moving its crew to a navy camp.
With information from Reuters
