• Three Australian military personnel were on a US submarine that sank an Iranian ship.
• The attack marked the first use of torpedoes by the US to sink an enemy vessel since World War II.
• Prime Minister Albanese emphasized that Australian troops did not participate in offensive actions.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed Friday that three Australian military personnel were on board a United States submarine that sank an Iranian warship off the southern coast of Sri Lanka this week. Albanese asserted, “I can confirm that there were three Australian personnel on board that vessel,” linking their presence to training arrangements under the AUKUS defense pact with the US and the UK, and emphasized that no Australian personnel participated in offensive actions against Iran, according to SCMP, Reuters, and AA.

The torpedo strike occurred during a military campaign, resulting in the deaths of at least 87 Iranian sailors. This incident marks the first time since World War II that a US submarine has used torpedoes to sink an enemy vessel, underlining a pivotal moment in contemporary military operations against Iran. The US Defense Secretary noted these operations come amidst escalating military actions involving Israel and the US against Iran, according to SCMP, Reuters, and AA.

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has announced plans for humanitarian assistance to a second Iranian ship nearby, emphasizing the need for peace and the importance of preserving life amidst ongoing conflicts. He remarked, “No civilian should die in wars," reinforcing Sri Lanka's neutral stance in the ongoing crisis, according to SCMP, Reuters, and AA.