• Sri Lanka takes control of the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Bushehr after US submarine sinks another Iranian warship.
• The operation involved the rescue of over 200 Iranian sailors amid growing tensions in the region.
• Sri Lanka aims to maintain its neutrality and humanitarian stance in the conflict.

Sri Lanka has taken control of the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Bushehr after it sought assistance due to engine trouble, just a day after a US submarine sank another Iranian ship, the IRIS Dena, which resulted in at least 87 fatalities. The Sri Lankan government emphasized its humanitarian responsibility, stating that it intervened to "save lives" while maintaining a neutral position in the ongoing conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran, according to BBC and Dawn.

On March 6, the Sri Lankan Navy began transferring 204 sailors from the IRIS Bushehr to shore at the Welisara Naval Base near Colombo. As tensions in the Indian Ocean escalate with the US-Israeli military campaign extending beyond the Middle East, Sri Lanka insists on executing its duties under international humanitarian law, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stressed that Sri Lanka’s actions highlight its commitment to humanitarian principles, stating that, "every life is as precious as our own." The IRIS Bushehr, classified as a navy logistics ship, had previously participated in naval exercises hosted by India before requesting assistance, with the Sri Lankan government stating it had no choice but to act on a distress call under international treaties, according to South China Morning Post and Los Angeles Times.

As a part of the operation, while most crew members were taken to land, about 15 crew members remained aboard to assist the Sri Lankan navy with navigation issues. The vessel will be moved to Trincomalee, further emphasizing the careful navigation of Sri Lanka between its diplomatic relationships with both Iran and the USA, noting that these countries are vital to its economy—US being a top export market and Iran a key buyer of tea, as stated by Reuters and Channel News Asia.