US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has claimed that an American submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean using a torpedo. The incident reportedly left at least 80 people dead, according to Sri Lanka’s deputy foreign minister, who said the vessel was returning to Iran from an eastern Indian port. Hegseth made the announcement during a Pentagon briefing on Wednesday, describing the strike as part of ongoing operations against Iran.

During the briefing, Hegseth said the attack marked only the beginning of joint US and Israeli military actions against Iran, warning of larger assaults ahead. He added that American and Israeli forces expect to gain full control of Iranian airspace within days, less than a week after the conflict began. Hegseth also confirmed that additional US troops are being deployed to the Middle East to ensure victory.

He emphasized that the campaign remains in its early stages and that the United States will take as much time as needed to secure success, echoing President Trump’s position. The information was reported by Al Jazeera and the BBC.