Fact-checking Pete Hegseth’s claim: Was Iranian warship sinking the first torpedo sinking since World War II?

“A U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters,” Hegseth said. “Instead, it was torpedoed.”

However, according to the BBC, his statement appears to be incorrect.

In 1982, during the Falklands War, argentine The only cruiser, the General Belgrano, was sunk in the South Atlantic by two Tigerfish torpedoes fired from a British nuclear-powered submarine.

In addition, another sinking occurred in 1971 when the Indian frigate INS Khukri was sunk by a Pakistani torpedo. submarineexternal.

However, if true, the sinking of the Iranian warship would be the first time a U.S. submarine has sunk an enemy ship in this way since 1945.

Later, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine appeared to explain Hegseth’s statement in the same briefing, saying the attack was the first time a U.S. submarine had sunk an enemy warship since 1945.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon released a video capturing the exact moment a U.S. torpedo hit an Iranian naval ship in the Indian Ocean.

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Sri Lanka’s Deputy Foreign Minister Arun Hemachandra confirmed that the incident occurred near the southern coast of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka.

The Iris Dena, one of Iran’s latest warships, sent a distress call at dawn about 25 miles south of the southern port of Galle, with 180 people on board, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said. According to the Guardian. In response, Sri Lankan authorities have launched a search and rescue operation to find more survivors.

According to the Associated Press, the Iranian ship participated in naval exercises in the Bay of Bengal from February 18 to 25 and was returning to Iran from a port in eastern India when it was attacked. According to information on the Indian website, the “Milan” naval exercise hosted by India included an Iranian ship named “IRIS Dena”.