In a chilling escalation of the ongoing conflict, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has released dramatic footage of recent operations aimed at neutralizing the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy. Under the directive of a “mission to sink the entire Iranian Navy,” the Pentagon shared video on Friday, March 6, 2026, showing a devastating strike on an Iranian drone carrier, identified by analysts as the IRIS Shahid Bagheri. The vessel, which is roughly the size of a World War II aircraft carrier and features a unique ski-jump ramp, was filmed engulfed in flames after being struck by U.S. forces. Admiral Brad Cooper, Commander of CENTCOM, confirmed the intensification of maritime strikes, revealing that more than 30 Iranian warships have now been destroyed or sunk since hostilities began on February 28. Cooper noted that these precision attacks have significantly degraded Tehran’s offensive capabilities, with ballistic missile and drone launch rates dropping by over 80 percent.
The most high-profile engagement in this campaign occurred earlier this week when a U.S. Navy nuclear-powered submarine torpedoed and sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean. The incident, which took place approximately 40 nautical miles off the coast of Galle, Sri Lanka, marked the first time an American submarine has used a torpedo to sink an enemy warship since World War II. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the engagement as a “quiet death,” highlighting that the IRIS Dena—considered a “prize ship” of the Iranian fleet—was targeted while returning from the MILAN 2026 multinational naval exercises in India. While 32 sailors were rescued by the Sri Lankan Navy, at least 87 bodies have been recovered, and dozens more remain missing from the 180-person crew.
The strategic shift toward “unrestricted” naval warfare has drawn sharp criticism from international observers and former military leaders. Former Indian Navy Chief Admiral Arun Prakash condemned the sinking of the IRIS Dena as a “senseless and inflammatory act,” noting that the vessel was operating in international waters and returning from a diplomatic mission when it was destroyed. Despite these concerns, the Pentagon remains defiant, with Secretary Hegseth promising that U.S. firepower over Iran will “surge dramatically” in the coming days. As satellite imagery confirms the destruction of other major assets, including the forward base ship IRIS Makran and several Jamaran-class corvettes, the Iranian Navy has been effectively neutralized in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, leaving the region on the precipice of a broader maritime war.
