Tensions between Iran and the United States escalated further after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it carried out a missile and drone attack against the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. Iranian authorities said the operation damaged the vessel and forced it to retreat from nearby waters.
However, US officials have not confirmed any successful strike on the carrier. According to American sources cited by CBS News, US naval forces instead responded to a perceived threat when an Iranian vessel approached the carrier group.
Iran Claims “Precision Operation” Against US Carrier
According to Iranian state media outlet Press TV, the IRGC Navy launched a “precision operation” against the USS Abraham Lincoln while it was operating in waters near the Sea of Oman.
Iranian officials said the attack involved advanced missiles and drones that targeted the aircraft carrier approximately 340 kilometres from Iran’s maritime borders.
A statement attributed to Iran’s Central Headquarters of the Holy Prophet claimed the strike rendered the carrier temporarily non-operational and forced the strike group to withdraw at high speed.
Iran framed the alleged operation as part of its efforts to defend national sovereignty and deter foreign military pressure in the region.
The IRGC also claimed that it targeted a US naval facility at Mina Salman in Bahrain, where the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet is headquartered.
According to Iranian sources, two waves of missile and drone strikes targeted infrastructure including fuel storage tanks, drone facilities, repair depots, and air-defense systems at the base.
Iranian authorities did not provide details regarding potential casualties or the extent of damage caused in the alleged strikes.
US Denies Successful Strike on Carrier
The United States has not acknowledged any successful Iranian attack on the USS Abraham Lincoln.
According to US officials quoted by CBS News, the incident involved an Iranian vessel approaching too close to the American carrier strike group earlier in the week.
US naval forces reportedly responded to the perceived threat by attempting to fire warning shots using a Mark-45 five-inch naval gun.
Officials said the rounds missed the approaching vessel.
The Iranian ship was later struck by two missiles fired from a US military helicopter equipped with AGM-114 Hellfire missiles.
The current status of the Iranian vessel and its crew remains unclear.
US Carrier Strike Group in the Region
At the time of the reported encounter, the USS Abraham Lincoln was patrolling the Arabian Sea as part of a carrier strike group supporting American military operations across the Middle East.
The strike group reportedly included several escort vessels such as guided-missile destroyers USS Spruance and USS Michael Murphy.
| US Naval Assets Reportedly in the Area | Role |
|---|---|
| USS Abraham Lincoln | Nimitz-class aircraft carrier |
| USS Spruance | Guided-missile destroyer |
| USS Michael Murphy | Guided-missile destroyer |
Officials did not specify which aircraft conducted the missile strike against the Iranian vessel, though US Navy MH-60R Seahawk helicopters and Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters are both capable of launching Hellfire missiles.
Additional Military Incidents Reported
The incident came shortly after reports that an Iran-backed militia group in Iraq shot down a US Air Force aircraft.
According to initial reports, the aircraft involved was a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, a military aerial refuelling aircraft operated by the United States Air Force.
The aircraft was reportedly carrying at least five crew members at the time of the incident.
Details regarding casualties or the circumstances surrounding the downing of the aircraft remain unclear.
Rising Tensions in Strategic Waters
The conflicting accounts from Iran and the United States highlight the increasingly volatile security situation in the Gulf region and nearby waters, including the Arabian Sea and the Sea of Oman.
These waters are among the world’s most strategically significant maritime zones, serving as key routes for Global energy shipments and international trade.
Military activity in the region has intensified in recent weeks as tensions between Iran, the United States, and their regional allies continue to rise.
Neither side has released additional operational details about the reported encounter, and the full circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear.
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