India’s Navy launched search and rescue (SAR) operations after a distress call was received from the Iranian warship IRIS Dena in waters off Sri Lanka, officials said in a statement. The alert was received at the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Colombo in the early hours of March 4 by the Sri Lankan navy. By then, search and rescue operations had already been initiated by the Sri Lankan Navy and other agencies. Officials added that the Indian naval vessel INS Ikshak had sailed from Kochi to further augment the search operations. Indian authorities said coordination with Sri Lankan agencies on the rescue operation is continuing.

Source: The Telegraph March 05, 2026 18:20 UTC