The Sri Lanka Navy says the bodies of 84 individuals have been recovered after an Iranian naval vessel sank in deep waters south of Sri Lanka following a U.S. attack beyond the country’s maritime boundary.

According to the Navy, search operations are continuing for those still missing.

The vessel, identified as IRIS Dena of the Iranian Navy, sank in waters south of Sri Lanka after being struck by a torpedo reportedly launched by a U.S. submarine.

The ship, which carried a crew of about 180 personnel, had earlier participated in an international naval fleet review and military exercise held in Visakhapatnam, India. It was reportedly returning to Iran at the time of the incident.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth yesterday confirmed that the United States had sunk an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean.

“An Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters was sunk by a torpedo,” Hegseth said.

However, the U.S. defence chief did not identify the specific Iranian vessel that had been targeted.