The U.S. military shot down an Iranian drone Tuesday after it “aggressively approached a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier with unclear intent,” a U.S. Central Command spokesman has confirmed.
“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,” Capt. Tim Hawkins said. CENTCOM added that the drone continued toward the carrier despite de-escalatory measures taken by U.S. forces operating in international waters. An F-35C fighter jet from Abraham Lincoln shot down the drone in self-defense to protect the aircraft carrier and personnel on board. Hawkins confirmed that no U.S. service members were injured and no equipment was damaged during the incident.
Hours later, a separate incident occurred in the Strait of Hormuz when Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) harassed a U.S.-flagged, U.S.-crewed merchant vessel transiting the international sea passage. CENTCOM said two IRGC boats and an Iranian Mohajer drone approached the M/V Stena Imperative at high speeds and threatened to board and seize the tanker.
The guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul (DDG 74) responded to escort the tanker, with defensive air support from the U.S. Air Force. The situation de-escalated, and the U.S.-flagged vessel is now proceeding safely.
