The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command has rejected Iran’s claim that the Iranian warship IRIS Dena was unarmed at the time it was attacked and sunk off the southern coast of Sri Lanka.
In a statement posted on its official social media account, the command said Iran’s claim that the vessel was unarmed was “false”.
It said the Law of Armed Conflict authorizes the use of force against valid military targets and added that U.S. forces had planned the operation.
The command also stated that Sri Lanka provided life-saving support to survivors in accordance with the Law of Armed Conflict following the incident.
The Iranian naval vessel IRIS Dena sank off the coast of Galle earlier this week following an attack claimed by the United States.
Sri Lanka Navy launched search and rescue operations after the incident, rescuing several sailors who were later admitted to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital in Galle for treatment.
Nearly 100 Iranian sailors died in the attack. (Newswire)
