Sri Lanka to evacuate 2nd Iranian ship after US submarine attack

ISTANBUL

Sri Lanka said Thursday that it will evacuate personnel aboard a second Iranian ship, one day after a US submarine attacked an Iranian warship.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said Colombo is preparing to safely evacuate 208 personnel stranded on the Iranian ship IRIS Bushehr, according to the News 1st outlet.

Sri Lanka, as a neutral state, must manage situations in line with international conventions, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, said Dissanayake.

“We cannot act hastily. We must work based on international agreements and commitments. Both parties need to reach an understanding,” he said.

The IRIS Bushehr had taken part in a naval exercise off the coast of India.

Colombo’s decision comes one day after the US confirmed that an American submarine launched a torpedo attack, hitting the IRIS Dena in waters off Sri Lanka, which led to the deaths of at least 87 sailors, 32 wounded and many missing.

The warship was heading home after participating in naval exercises hosted by India.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Thursday that the IRIS Dena carried 130 sailors.

The attack occurred as Israel and the US continue large-scale airstrikes on Iran that began last Saturday.

Iranian authorities said at least 926 victims have been killed in the attacks, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior military officials.

Iran has responded with drone and missile attacks targeting Israel and Gulf countries hosting US military assets.