US Sinks Iranian Warship IRIS Dena: Was Attack & Non-Rescue Legal?

• A US submarine torpedoed and sank the Iranian warship IRIS Dena 40 nautical miles off Sri Lanka.
• The attack was lawful under naval warfare law as IRIS Dena was a military objective in an international armed conflict, operating outside neutral waters.
• The law of naval warfare requires belligerents to assist survivors, but submarines face unique challenges in direct rescue.
• US likely facilitated rescue by reporting the location of survivors to Sri Lankan authorities.
• Sri Lankan navy rescued 32 sailors and retrieved 87 bodies, suggesting prompt notification.