US Navy Sinks Iranian Warship 'Soleimani' as Iran's Fleet

The US military has confirmed the sinking of the IRIS Soleimani, an Iranian naval frigate, marking the latest in a devastating series of engagements that have now destroyed at least 20 Iranian vessels since the start of hostilities.

The Soleimani Goes Down

Video footage released through military channels shows the moment of impact as the Iranian warship — named after slain IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani — was struck and destroyed. The engagement reportedly took place in international waters, consistent with earlier reports of a US submarine torpedo attack on an Iranian vessel near Sri Lanka that left over 100 crew members missing.

The Department of Defense has separately released video of a torpedo attack on an Iranian ship, confirming that US submarine forces are actively engaged in hunting Iranian naval assets across multiple theaters — from the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean.

Iran's Navy: Effectively Destroyed

President Trump stated bluntly that Iran's navy has been "knocked out," a claim that now appears backed by the numbers. With 20 vessels confirmed sunk or destroyed, Iran's operational surface fleet has been reduced to a fraction of its pre-war strength.

The Iranian navy entered the conflict with approximately 80 surface combatants of various sizes, including frigates, corvettes, and fast attack craft. Losing 20 vessels — a quarter of the fleet — in a matter of days represents a catastrophic attrition rate that Iran cannot sustain or replace.

US Central Command confirmed that the Strait of Hormuz is now clear of Iranian navy ships, a dramatic reversal from Iran's earlier declaration that the strait was under "full supervision" of its naval forces.

How the US Did It

The campaign against Iran's navy has employed a layered approach:

• Submarine warfare: Virginia-class and Ohio-class submarines operating in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea, using Mk 48 torpedoes against Iranian surface vessels
• Anti-ship missiles: Harpoon and LRASM strikes from surface combatants and aircraft
• Naval aviation: F/A-18E/F Super Hornets from the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group conducting anti-surface warfare missions
• Mine countermeasures: Clearing Iranian mines from the Strait of Hormuz while simultaneously engaging Iranian minelayers

Strategic Implications

The destruction of a quarter of Iran's fleet in days confirms what defense analysts have long predicted: Iran's conventional navy was never designed to survive a direct confrontation with the US Fifth Fleet. Tehran's naval strategy relied on asymmetric threats — fast attack boats, mines, and anti-ship missiles from shore batteries — rather than blue-water engagements.

The sinking of a ship literally named after Soleimani carries symbolic weight beyond the military calculus. It signals that the US campaign is not merely degrading Iranian capabilities but systematically dismantling the symbols of Iranian military pride.

With the Strait of Hormuz now cleared of Iranian naval presence and 20 vessels destroyed, the maritime dimension of this conflict is approaching a decisive conclusion — one that overwhelmingly favors American naval power.