Sri Lanka rescued 30 injured sailors from a sinking Iranian frigate off its coast on March 4, 2026.

Sri Lanka rescued 30 injured sailors from the Iranian frigate Iris Dena, which was sinking about 40 nautical miles off its southern coast on March 4, 2026, following a distress call. The ship, carrying 180 crew members, had sustained damage, prompting a joint naval and air rescue operation. Injured personnel were treated at a hospital in Galle. Sri Lankan officials confirmed the response was in line with international maritime obligations but provided no details on the cause of the distress, though regional military tensions were ongoing.