Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a missile and drone operation against USS Abraham Lincoln. Iranian officials alleged the strike damaged the aircraft carrier and forced withdrawal from regional waters. However, the United States has not confirmed this claim.
According to a CBS News report, American forces instead responded to a threatening Iranian vessel approaching the carrier.
IRGC Describes Precision Operation Near Sea Of Oman
According to Iranian state media outlet Press TV, the IRGC Navy launched a precision operation against the vessel. Officials said the carrier operated in waters near the Sea of Oman during the strike.
Iranian authorities stated that advanced missiles and drones participated in the attack. They claimed the weapons struck the carrier approximately 340 kilometers from Iran’s maritime borders.
A statement attributed to Iran’s Central Headquarters of the Holy Prophet described the operation. According to the statement, the strike rendered the carrier non-operational and forced the strike group to withdraw quickly.
Officials presented the operation as part of Iran’s strategy to defend sovereignty and resist foreign military pressure.
Aircraft Carrier Supports US Military Operations
Meanwhile, USS Abraham Lincoln is a nuclear-powered Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. The vessel forms part of a US carrier strike group.
Currently, the carrier supports American military operations across the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific region. Iranian authorities did not reveal the exact level of damage.
Additionally, officials did not disclose whether casualties occurred during the alleged strike.
Iran Also Claims Strike On US Naval Installation
Separately, the IRGC stated that it launched another missile and drone attack. This operation targeted a US naval installation in Mina Salman. The location hosts the US Navy Fifth Fleet base. Iranian officials said two waves of strikes targeted several important facilities.
Targets included anti-drone defence systems, drone storage areas, maintenance zones, support equipment, and fuel tanks. Iranian authorities claimed the operation caused significant damage to US military infrastructure and personnel concentrations.
Furthermore, the IRGC declared the strikes demonstrated naval capability against advanced military threats. Officials also warned that intimidation against Iran would trigger decisive responses.
US Denies Attack On USS Abraham Lincoln
However, US authorities rejected Iranian claims regarding a successful strike on the aircraft carrier.
According to CBS News, US officials described a different incident earlier that week. They said an Iranian vessel approached USS Abraham Lincoln too closely. Consequently, American naval forces reacted to the perceived threat.
Two US officials briefed on the event spoke to the broadcaster. They explained that a US Navy ship attempted firing using a Mark-45 five-inch naval gun. However, those shots missed the approaching vessel.
Afterward, US forces launched a helicopter carrying Hellfire missiles. The helicopter struck the Iranian vessel using two missiles.
Officials did not clarify the condition of the Iranian craft or its crew.
Incident Occurred In Arabian Sea
Reports indicated the event occurred while USS Abraham Lincoln operated in the Arabian Sea.
The carrier sailed alongside escort ships including guided-missile destroyers USS Spruance and USS Michael Murphy. According to CBS News, several additional US destroyers operated within the same region. Officials did not immediately identify the helicopter responsible for the missile strike.
However, US Navy MH-60R Seahawk helicopters and Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper helicopters both carry Hellfire missiles.
US Aircraft Shot Down In Iraq
Meanwhile, another development occurred shortly before this incident. A US Air Force aircraft carrying at least five crew members was shot down in Iraq. The aircraft involved was a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker used for aerial refuelling operations. Iran-backed Islamic Resistance forces claimed responsibility for the attack.
Rising Tensions In Strategic Waters
These conflicting accounts highlight increasing tension between Iran and the United States. The Gulf and Arabian Sea region remains strategically significant for military operations. Consequently, the area continues witnessing intense geopolitical rivalry and military activity.
