Sinking Dena: Lawful Target, Complex Rescue Duties
The article argues that the torpedoing of Iran’s frigate IRIS Dena by the U.S. submarine Charlotte was lawful under the law of naval warfare, since enemy warships may be attacked in international waters outside neutral zones, with proportionality and precautions in attack satisfied. The main contested issue is whether Charlotte fulfilled its obligation to aid shipwrecked survivors; given the Dena’s distress call and the rapid SAR response by Sri Lankan and Indian forces, plus submarine warfare’s practical limits, the authors suggest there was no breach, though full public details are unavailable.