The United States confirmed that its submarine sank an Iranian naval ship off the southern coast of Sri Lanka. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the strike was carried out by an American submarine. “A US submarine sank an Iranian warship off the southern coast of Sri Lanka,” he said.   Sri Lanka earlier said the vessel was the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena. Officials said the ship went down about 40 nautical miles off Galle after sending a distress call. Around 180 crew members were on board.   The vessel had recently taken part in the International Fleet Review 2026 in India before beginning its return journey. Sri Lankan authorities rescued 32 sailors and recovered several bodies as search operations continued. (PC: India Today)

A man from Pothireddypalle village in Rajanna Sircilla district, N Rajeswara Rao, was injured during an attack linked to the Iran conflict near Abu Dhabi International Airport, his parents said. Rao, who works in the airport’s housekeeping section, told family via video call that he and several others sustained minor injuries after the strike but managed to escape. His father, Prabhakar Rao, urged the Indian government to assist in bringing his son home safely amid escalating Gulf tensions. Some passengers arriving in Hyderabad reported no travel issues despite regional unrest. (PC: AFP)

An Indian-origin startup founder said he is stranded in Dubai during the US-Iran conflict and criticised the US government’s evacuation response. Soups Ranjan, CEO and co-founder of Sardine, said he travelled to Dubai for business but has been unable to return as flights to the United States were cancelled. “After four days of adrenalin and constant fear, I feel demoralised and abandoned by our government,” he wrote on X. Ranjan said he booked several flights but all were cancelled. He urged the US government to keep flights running, arrange evacuation if needed, and set up a working emergency helpline. The US says more than 9,000 Americans have already returned from the Middle East. (PC: HT)

A US submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean with a torpedo, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday. Speaking about the incident, Hegseth said the Iranian vessel believed it was safe in international waters. “An Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters was sunk by a torpedo,” he said. He did not name the ship. Earlier, Sri Lankan authorities reported that an Iranian naval ship had sunk off the coast of Galle. Around 140 crew members were reported missing after the vessel went down. The announcement came as US and Israeli forces continued strikes on Iranian targets. Military tensions across the Middle East remain high. (PC: BBC)

The United States said it is gaining the upper hand in the war with Iran and expects to control Iranian airspace within a week. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said American and allied forces have strong military capacity and can sustain operations for as long as needed. “Our air defenses and that of our allies have plenty of runway. We can sustain this fight easily for as long as we need to,” he said. Hegseth added that Iran’s position is weakening as US and Israeli strikes continue on Iranian targets. He said further waves of attacks are planned as the campaign expands. The conflict has intensified across the region with rising casualties in Iran, Lebanon, Israel and among US forces. (PC: India Today)

A ballistic missile fired from Iran toward Turkey was intercepted by NATO air defence systems over the eastern Mediterranean Sea, Turkey’s Defence Ministry said on Wednesday. The ministry said the missile was tracked after passing through Iraqi and Syrian airspace. It was destroyed before entering Turkish territory. Officials said there were no casualties. “Turkey reserves the right to respond to any hostile actions against it,” the ministry said, while urging all sides to avoid steps that could worsen the conflict. The incident comes as the Iran war expands across the region. Turkey, a NATO member that shares a long border with Iran, had earlier called for restraint and warned against further escalation. (PC: X)

An Iranian Navy frigate, the IRIS Dena, sank off Sri Lanka’s southern coast after what local sources described as a submarine attack, leaving at least 101 sailors missing and 78 wounded as search-and-rescue operations continue. Sri Lankan authorities said a few bodies of crew were recovered from the sea and 32 critically wounded personnel were taken to hospital in Galle for treatment. The ship had issued a distress call before going down about 25–40 miles south of the island. The cause of the incident remains under investigation amid wider regional conflict. (PC: X & AP)

Pakistan has indicated it could be drawn into the Iran war because of its defence pact with Saudi Arabia. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said he warned Iran against attacking Saudi territory. “I made them understand that we have a defence agreement,” Dar said. It is the first time a Pakistani official has said the pact could apply to the current conflict. The agreement, signed last year, states that an attack on one country will be treated as an attack on both. Pakistan’s involvement could be risky. The country shares a border with Iran and has a large Shia population. It is also facing security tensions along its border with Afghanistan. (PC: India Today)

Israel intensified its offensive with coordinated airstrikes on military and security installations in Tehran and Beirut, marking a significant escalation in the regional conflict. In response, Iran launched missile and drone attacks targeting US military bases and diplomatic-linked facilities across Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar. Explosions were reported in multiple locations, raising fears of a wider Gulf confrontation. Casualty figures continue to rise, and international leaders have urged restraint as the conflict threatens oil supplies, regional stability and broader Middle East security.

A five-day US–Israeli military campaign has driven Iran’s reported death toll to 1,145, with heavy bombardment in Tehran and spillover strikes reported in Beirut. Iranian retaliation has targeted US, Israeli and Gulf-linked sites, escalating regional tensions. Turkiye confirmed that its air defenses intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile over the eastern Mediterranean, preventing casualties. Meanwhile, an Iranian drone strike caused a fire near the US consulate in Dubai, though no injuries were reported. Diplomatic missions across the region are shutting down, oil markets remain volatile, and fears are mounting of a wider Middle East conflict. (PC: NDTV)