A fresh claim and counterclaim has emerged in the ongoing tensions in West Asia after Iran said it struck the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) with ballistic missiles.
However, the United States has strongly denied the claim, saying the warship is still operational and conducting missions in the region.
What Iran Claimed
According to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, a precision missile and drone operation targeted the US carrier around 340 kilometres from Iran's maritime border in the Sea of Oman.
Iranian officials said the strike hit the aircraft carrier, damaging it and forcing the vessel to withdraw from Gulf waters.
State media in Iran even reported that the carrier strike group was seen leaving the area at high speed after the alleged attack.
US Response: Claim Is False
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) rejected Iran's claim shortly after it surfaced.
Officials said the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) and its carrier strike group remain fully operational and continue to support the ongoing military campaign known as Operation Epic Fury in the region.
CENTCOM even shared a recent image of the aircraft carrier at sea to counter Iran's claims.
Tense Incident at Sea
US media reports also mentioned a separate naval encounter in which an Iranian vessel reportedly sailed too close to the American carrier group.
A US Navy ship attempted to fire at the Iranian vessel using a 5-inch Mark 45 naval gun, but the shots reportedly missed the target multiple times. It remains unclear whether the firing was meant as a warning or an attempt to disable the vessel.
Heavy US Naval Presence in the Region
The United States currently has a significant naval presence in West Asia, including two aircraft carriers:
- USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72)
- USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78)
Several destroyers are also deployed with the carrier group, including:
- USS Spruance (DDG-111)
- USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112)
These ships are operating across the Arabian Sea and nearby waters amid the escalating Israel-Iran conflict.