Regional tensions escalated on Thursday as a second Iranian warship moved toward the territorial waters of Sri Lanka, a day after a United States submarine destroyed an Iranian frigate near the island nation, killing at least 87 sailors.
Sri Lanka’s Media Minister, Nalinda Jayatissa, disclosed the development while addressing parliament, confirming that the Iranian vessel was located just outside Sri Lankan waters.
Although he did not provide detailed information about the warship’s mission or its exact position, officials expressed concern that the vessel could face a similar fate to the Iranian frigate that was sunk in a torpedo attack on Wednesday.
According to official sources, the approaching ship is believed to be carrying more than 100 crew members. Authorities fear the vessel may also become a potential target amid the widening conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.
The attack occurred just off Sri Lanka’s southern coastline and has intensified concerns about the conflict spilling beyond the Middle East into other strategic maritime routes.
The war itself was triggered by a joint military strike by the United States and Israel on Iranian targets, an action that has significantly heightened geopolitical tensions across the region and beyond.
In the southern Sri Lankan port city of Galle, authorities were making arrangements to hand over the remains of the 87 Iranian sailors killed in the submarine attack.
Officials said the bodies were being processed and prepared for repatriation, while security remained tight around medical facilities and government installations.
At the main hospital in Galle, authorities confirmed that 32 Iranian sailors who survived the attack were still receiving treatment for injuries sustained during the sinking of the frigate.
The rescued sailors are reportedly under strict security protection provided by Sri Lankan police and elite commando units, amid fears that the incident could trigger further military or diplomatic complications.
The presence of the second Iranian warship near Sri Lanka has raised fresh concerns among international observers about the safety of commercial shipping routes in the region.
Sri Lanka, which lies along some of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes, has traditionally maintained a neutral position in international conflicts, but the unfolding situation has placed the island nation in a delicate diplomatic position.
Security analysts warn that continued military confrontations at sea could endanger civilian vessels and destabilise maritime security in the wider Indian Ocean region.
For now, Sri Lankan authorities say they are closely monitoring the movements of the approaching Iranian warship while coordinating with international partners to ensure that the situation does not escalate further within their territorial waters.
