Sri Lankan forces launch rescue mission for Iranian sailors

Sri Lanka’s navy and air force have been deployed to assist Iranian sailors after their vessel began sinking off the coast of the island, authorities said.

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told parliament that a distress signal from the vessel “IRIS Dena” was received at dawn. There were reportedly 180 people on board at the time of the emergency, BBC reports.

According to Herath, 30 injured sailors have been transported to a hospital in the southern port city of Galle for medical treatment.

The cause of the sinking remains unclear. During the parliamentary session, an opposition lawmaker questioned whether the ship may have been bombed as part of US-Israeli attacks against Iran. No official response to that suggestion has been issued.

By Vafa Guliyeva