Three Australians were aboard US submarine that sank Iranian ship, Prime Minister Albanese says

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that three Australian defence personnel were aboard a U.S. submarine that sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, but emphasized they did not take part in the attack. The incident, the first torpedo sinking of an enemy vessel by the U.S. since World War II, occurred amid escalating tensions involving Iran and the United States.

Renju Jose/Reuters

6 March 2026 at 01:49:17

Three Australians were aboard US submarine that sank Iranian ship, Prime Minister Albanese says

Security personnel stand guard as an ambulance enters inside the Galle National Hospital, following a submarine attack on the Iranian military ship, IRIS Dena, off the coast of Sri Lanka, in Galle, Sri Lanka, March 5, 2026.

Thilina Kaluthotage/Reuters

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday that three Australian defence personnel were on board a United States submarine that sank an Iranian warship with a torpedo in the Indian Ocean, but stressed they did not take part in the attack.

The strike, which occured off the southern coast of Sri Lanka this week, marked the first time since World War Two that the United States has sunk an enemy vessel with a torpedo. Sri Lankan authorities recovered the bodies of 87 sailors.

Albanese told Sky News the Australians were on board as part of training linked to the AUKUS defence pact between Australia, the U.S. and Britain, designed to help Australia acquire and build nuclear-powered submarines.

No Australian personnel have participated in any offensive action against Iran, Albanese said.

"These are long-standing third country arrangements that have been in place for a long period of time," Albanese said.

Australia, a close U.S. ally, has ruled out any military role in the conflict, but has said it would support efforts aimed at preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.

The conflict in the Middle East escalated on Thursday, with with U.S. and Israeli jets hitting multiple areas across Iran, while Gulf cities came under renewed bombardment.

-Renju Jose/Reuters