Arabic version: سريلانكا ستعيد جثث البحارة الإيرانيين الذين قتلوا في هجوم أمريكي
Sri Lanka is repatriating the remains of 84 Iranian sailors who died when their frigate was sunk by a United States submarine torpedo attack on March 4, 2026. The incident occurred in international waters off the coast of Sri Lanka, prompting criticism for allegedly violating international law. The announcement of the repatriation was made by the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday.
According to Al Jazeera, the repatriation will be facilitated by a chartered aircraft sent by Iran. The Iranian embassy has also confirmed that the bodies are scheduled to return to Iran. The sailors were serving on the IRIS Dena, which was torpedoed while sailing far from the theatre of war.
In addition to the deceased, 32 sailors were rescued by the Sri Lankan Navy and are currently being held in Sri Lanka. Of those, 22 have been discharged from the hospital and are now at an air force base, separate from the crew of another Iranian warship, the IRIS Bushehr, which is also in Sri Lankan waters. Sri Lankan officials have not begun discussions on repatriating the Bushehr crew, but they are committed to treating all personnel in accordance with their treaty obligations.
The situation escalated tensions in the region, as the sinking of the IRIS Dena extended the ongoing Middle East conflict into the Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka has provided safe harbor for the IRIS Bushehr and is currently hosting a total of 251 Iranian sailors, ensuring their safety amid ongoing fears of further US attacks. A third Iranian ship has also sought refuge in India, with its crew currently in Indian custody.
