At least 80 people were killed after a US submarine torpedoed and sank an Iranian Navy warship in the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka, according to a report by Reuters.

The United States has not confirmed the reported death toll. However, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged the strike, describing it as a demonstration of America’s global military reach amid its ongoing war with Iran.

“An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo,” Hegseth told reporters.

Sri Lankan authorities said 32 crew members were rescued from the frigate IRIS Dena following the attack. A further 148 sailors remain missing, with search efforts ongoing and hopes fading that additional survivors will be found.

Hegseth referred to the strike as a “quiet death,” calling it the first time since World War II that the United States has sunk an enemy vessel using a torpedo. “Like in that war,” he said, “we are fighting to win.”

The Pentagon has said one of the central objectives of the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, launched over the weekend, is to dismantle Iran’s naval capabilities.

The sinking marks a significant escalation in maritime hostilities, expanding the conflict further into the Indian Ocean and raising concerns about regional shipping routes and broader security implications.

Iranians are set to gather in Tehran on Wednesday night to bid farewell to the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, following his reported death in weekend airstrikes attributed to Israel and the United States, according to Iranian state media.

Hojjatoleslam Mahmoudi, head of Iran’s Islamic Propagation Council, announced that the farewell ceremony will begin at 10 p.m. local time at the Imam Khomeini Prayer Hall in the capital.

The public will be permitted to pay their respects, with commemorations expected to continue for three days. Details of the funeral procession are expected to be announced at a later stage, Reuters reported.

Images circulating from Tehran show makeshift memorials set up across the city, with citizens gathering to mourn the longtime leader, who was 86. Authorities have called on the public to attend the ceremony in large numbers.

Khamenei, who led Iran for more than three decades, was a central figure in shaping the country’s domestic and foreign policy, maintaining a firm stance against both the United States and Israel.

Iranian state media reported that he was killed on Saturday in joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes, a development that has dramatically escalated tensions in the region.

The reported killing marks a pivotal moment for Iran, raising questions about succession, internal stability, and the broader geopolitical consequences for the Middle East.

The U.S. Mission to Pakistan has suspended all visa appointments at its embassy in Islamabad and consulates in Lahore and Karachi through Friday, March 6, citing the current security situation.

In a notice to applicants, the mission said routine visa services would remain paused during this period. Officials did not elaborate on the specific security concerns but confirmed that affected applicants would receive instructions on how to reschedule once operations resume.

“Due to the current security situation, the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and the Consulates General in Lahore and Karachi have cancelled all visa appointments through Friday, March 6,” the embassy said in a post on X, advising applicants to monitor official channels for further updates.

The extended suspension follows an earlier decision to cancel all visa and American Citizen Services (ACS) appointments scheduled for March 2.

In a security alert issued March 1, the mission said it was tracking reports of demonstrations outside the U.S. Consulate General in Lahore and protests near the consulate in Karachi, as well as calls for further gatherings near the embassy in Islamabad and the consulate in Peshawar.

As a precaution, U.S. government personnel were instructed to restrict their movements until further notice.

The mission also urged American citizens in Pakistan to follow local media coverage, remain vigilant, avoid large crowds and ensure their Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) registration is up to date.

The suspension comes amid nationwide protests triggered by U.S. and Israeli strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. Violent clashes erupted outside the U.S. Consulate in Karachi on Sunday, leaving multiple people dead and dozens injured, according to local authorities.

Demonstrations were also reported in major cities including Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta, where protesters confronted law enforcement.

In Islamabad, authorities imposed Section 144 and sealed routes leading to the capital’s diplomatic enclave.

In Karachi, demonstrators attempted to advance toward the consulate compound, prompting police to use tear gas and other crowd-control measures to disperse them. Officials reported at least 10 fatalities and 36 injuries in the unrest.