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A tense moment unfolded in the Arabian Sea on Tuesday after a U.S. Navy fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone near the USS Abraham Lincoln. U.S. officials said the unmanned aircraft approached the aircraft carrier in an aggressive manner with unclear intent. The incident comes amid heightened U.S.–Iran tensions and renewed diplomatic maneuvering.
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According to the U.S. military, an Iranian Shahed-139 unmanned aerial vehicle flew toward the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier on Tuesday while the ship was operating in the Arabian Sea. Officials said the drone maneuvered toward the carrier “with unclear intent,” prompting a defensive response, as quoted in a report by Reuters.
An F-35C fighter jet launched from the USS Abraham Lincoln shot down the drone. Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for U.S. Central Command, said the action was taken “in self-defense and to protect the aircraft carrier and personnel on board.”
"USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) was transiting the Arabian Sea approximately 500 miles from Iran’s southern coast when an Iranian Shahed-139 drone unnecessarily maneuvered toward the ship," Navy Captain Tim Hawkins said, as quoted in a report by Reuters.
"The Iranian drone continued to fly toward the ship despite de-escalatory measures taken by U.S. forces operating in international waters," Tim Hawkins also said.
No American service members were injured in the incident, and no U.S. equipment was damaged.
Why did the military respond with force?
U.S. officials described the drone’s behavior as aggressive and unnecessary. Captain Hawkins said the USS Abraham Lincoln was transiting the Arabian Sea approximately 500 miles from Iran’s southern coast when the Iranian drone approached the ship.
Given the unclear intent of the drone and its proximity to the carrier strike group, the decision was made to neutralize the aircraft. The incident was first reported by Reuters and later confirmed by U.S. military officials.
As of the time of reporting, there has been no public confirmation from the U.S. Navy or the Pentagon through official statements, and Iranian authorities have not commented on the incident.
U.S. Central Command said a separate incident occurred later on Tuesday in the Strait of Hormuz. According to Hawkins, two boats belonging to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and an Iranian Mohajer drone approached a U.S.-flagged, U.S.-crewed merchant vessel, the M/V Stena Imperative, as quoted in a report by Reuters.
The vessels reportedly approached at high speeds and threatened to board and seize the tanker. No injuries or damage were reported in that incident either.
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"Two IRGC boats and an Iranian Mohajer drone approached M/V Stena Imperative at high speeds and threatened to board and seize the tanker." "Guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul (DDG 74) was operating in the area and immediately responded to the scene to escort M/V Stena Imperative with defensive air support from the U.S. Air Force. The situation de-escalated as a result, and the U.S.-flagged tanker is proceeding safely," the CENTCOM spokesman said, as quoted in a report by Fox News.
The USS Abraham Lincoln is a Nimitz-class, nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and one of the largest warships ever built. It displaces more than 100,000 tons, is powered by two nuclear reactors, and can operate at sea for decades without refueling. The carrier typically deploys with around 90 aircraft and helicopters and is protected by layered defensive systems and escort ships, as per information sourced from UK Defence Journal.
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According to open-source reporting, the carrier strike group was redeployed to the Middle East in late January after operating in the Indo-Pacific region. By the end of January, it was entering the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically critical waterway for global energy shipments.
The incident comes as diplomats work to arrange nuclear talks between the United States and Iran. President Donald Trump has warned that “bad things” would likely happen if a deal could not be reached, even as he said Iran was “seriously talking.”
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The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group represents the most visible part of a broader U.S. military buildup in the region following a violent crackdown on anti-government demonstrations in Iran last month.
FAQs
Was anyone injured when the drone was shot down?
No. U.S. officials said no American personnel were harmed and no equipment was damaged.
What type of drone was involved?
Officials identified the aircraft as an Iranian Shahed-139 unmanned drone.
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What happened near the USS Abraham Lincoln?
According to the U.S. military, an Iranian Shahed-139 unmanned aerial vehicle flew toward the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier on Tuesday while the ship was operating in the Arabian Sea. Officials said the drone maneuvered toward the carrier “with unclear intent,” prompting a defensive response, as quoted in a report by Reuters.
An F-35C fighter jet launched from the USS Abraham Lincoln shot down the drone. Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for U.S. Central Command, said the action was taken “in self-defense and to protect the aircraft carrier and personnel on board.”
"USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) was transiting the Arabian Sea approximately 500 miles from Iran’s southern coast when an Iranian Shahed-139 drone unnecessarily maneuvered toward the ship," Navy Captain Tim Hawkins said, as quoted in a report by Reuters.
"The Iranian drone continued to fly toward the ship despite de-escalatory measures taken by U.S. forces operating in international waters," Tim Hawkins also said.
No American service members were injured in the incident, and no U.S. equipment was damaged.
Why did the military respond with force?
U.S. officials described the drone’s behavior as aggressive and unnecessary. Captain Hawkins said the USS Abraham Lincoln was transiting the Arabian Sea approximately 500 miles from Iran’s southern coast when the Iranian drone approached the ship.
Given the unclear intent of the drone and its proximity to the carrier strike group, the decision was made to neutralize the aircraft. The incident was first reported by Reuters and later confirmed by U.S. military officials.
As of the time of reporting, there has been no public confirmation from the U.S. Navy or the Pentagon through official statements, and Iranian authorities have not commented on the incident.
What else happened in the region that day?
U.S. Central Command said a separate incident occurred later on Tuesday in the Strait of Hormuz. According to Hawkins, two boats belonging to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and an Iranian Mohajer drone approached a U.S.-flagged, U.S.-crewed merchant vessel, the M/V Stena Imperative, as quoted in a report by Reuters.
The vessels reportedly approached at high speeds and threatened to board and seize the tanker. No injuries or damage were reported in that incident either.
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"Two IRGC boats and an Iranian Mohajer drone approached M/V Stena Imperative at high speeds and threatened to board and seize the tanker." "Guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul (DDG 74) was operating in the area and immediately responded to the scene to escort M/V Stena Imperative with defensive air support from the U.S. Air Force. The situation de-escalated as a result, and the U.S.-flagged tanker is proceeding safely," the CENTCOM spokesman said, as quoted in a report by Fox News.
Why is the USS Abraham Lincoln’s presence significant?
The USS Abraham Lincoln is a Nimitz-class, nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and one of the largest warships ever built. It displaces more than 100,000 tons, is powered by two nuclear reactors, and can operate at sea for decades without refueling. The carrier typically deploys with around 90 aircraft and helicopters and is protected by layered defensive systems and escort ships, as per information sourced from UK Defence Journal.
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According to open-source reporting, the carrier strike group was redeployed to the Middle East in late January after operating in the Indo-Pacific region. By the end of January, it was entering the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically critical waterway for global energy shipments.
How does this fit into broader U.S.–Iran tensions?
The incident comes as diplomats work to arrange nuclear talks between the United States and Iran. President Donald Trump has warned that “bad things” would likely happen if a deal could not be reached, even as he said Iran was “seriously talking.”
ALSO READ: Quote of the Day by Bruce Lee: 'Mistakes are always forgivable,…'—Inspiring quotes by the renowned martial artist
The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group represents the most visible part of a broader U.S. military buildup in the region following a violent crackdown on anti-government demonstrations in Iran last month.
FAQs
Was anyone injured when the drone was shot down?
No. U.S. officials said no American personnel were harmed and no equipment was damaged.
What type of drone was involved?
Officials identified the aircraft as an Iranian Shahed-139 unmanned drone.
