A U.S. Navy helicopter struck an Iranian vessel with two Hellfire missiles after it approached too closely to the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea, two U.S. officials told CBS News. The incident occurred earlier this week amid heightened tensions in the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran.

According to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, a U.S. Navy surface vessel first attempted to engage the Iranian craft using its 5-inch, 54-caliber Mark-45 naval gun but missed multiple times. A helicopter was then launched from the carrier strike group and successfully hit the target with two Hellfire missiles. The type of helicopter was not specified, though Navy MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, commonly deployed on carriers like the Abraham Lincoln, are equipped for anti-surface warfare with such munitions. The extent of damage to the Iranian vessel and the status of its crew remain unknown.

U.S. Central Command had no immediate comment on the matter, with a defense official stating, "We have nothing for you on this." Iran has not publicly responded to the incident as of Thursday evening.

The USS Abraham Lincoln, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier homeported in San Diego, has been operating in the Arabian Sea since late January 2026 as part of U.S. Central Command's operations. The carrier strike group, which includes destroyers such as the USS Spruance and USS Michael Murphy, supports American military actions against Iran, which President Trump has described as an "armada."

This encounter follows a pattern of provocative actions by Iranian forces. In early February, an Iranian Shahed-139 drone aggressively approached the Abraham Lincoln and was shot down by a U.S. fighter jet. Since the escalation of the U.S.-Iran war in late February, American forces have damaged or destroyed more than 90 Iranian vessels, including drone carriers and mine-laying ships, according to Central Command reports.

Iran has repeatedly claimed successful strikes on the Abraham Lincoln, including missile and drone attacks, but U.S. officials have released photos and videos showing the carrier undamaged and continuing operations. The Pentagon denied Iranian assertions of hitting the carrier with ballistic missiles earlier this month.

The Abraham Lincoln led initial U.S. strikes against Iran alongside Israeli forces in late February, launching aircraft from the Arabian Sea. The carrier's presence underscores the U.S. commitment to regional security amid disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and broader naval engagements.