2 Australians were aboard US submarine that hit Iranian warship off Sri Lanka: Report

ISTANBUL

At least two Australian sailors were aboard a US submarine that hit an Iranian warship off Sri Lankan waters, killing at least 87, a media report claimed on Thursday.

The Australians “are on the American submarine as part of the AUKUS training rotation,” 9News reported.

However, Canberra has refused to comment on the reported deployment of its personnel on the US submarine.

Australia has signed a trilateral pact, known as AUKUS, with the US and the UK to acquire nuclear-powered submarines.

"There are long-standing arrangements relating to third-country deployments to ensure Australian interests are managed appropriately," an Australian Defense spokesperson told the media outlet.

“It is not appropriate to go into these details.”

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed on Wednesday that an American submarine attacked the IRIS Dena, a Moudge-class frigate serving in the Iranian Navy’s Southern Fleet.

The Iranian foreign minister on Thursday said that 130 sailors were aboard an Iranian warship that was hit by the US a day earlier off the coast of Sri Lanka.

"The US has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran's shores. Frigate Dena, a guest of India's Navy carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck in international waters without warning," Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi wrote on US social media platform X.

The warship was on its way home after participating in a naval drill off the Indian coast last month. While 32 sailors were wounded, many are still missing.

Addressing questions about reported deployment of Australian personnel, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said: “You ask about Australian Defence Force personnel … for operational and security reasons, we do not disclose specific information regarding Australian personnel.”

The attack on the Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean comes amid an ongoing military campaign by Israel and the US against Iran since Saturday, killing at least 926 people, including its Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and top military officials.

Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel as well as Gulf countries that are home to US military assets.