A United States fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone that was approaching dangerously close to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln while it was sailing in the Arabian Sea, in a new episode of military tension in the Middle East. The incident was confirmed by United States Central Command (CentCom), which described the action as a self-defense measure in response to a dangerous maneuver.
The incident occurred about 800 kilometers (497 miles) off Iran's southern coast, when a Shahed-139 drone headed directly toward the U.S. aircraft carrier. According to the report, the unmanned aircraft adopted an "aggressive" posture with "unclear intentions," even though U.S. forces deployed in the area had implemented de-escalation measures while operating in international waters.
In response to that situation, an F-35C fighter belonging to USS Abraham Lincoln's own air wing proceeded to neutralize the Iranian drone. The operation was carried out without complications, and no injuries or material damage were reported on the aircraft carrier or among its crew. CentCom emphasized that the response was proportional and preventive, with the objective of ensuring the safety of the vessel and the embarked personnel.
Hours after this episode, a new incident was reported involving forces of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which harassed a merchant vessel with a U.S. flag and crew. The vessel was the Stena Imperative, which was sailing through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most strategic maritime passages for global hydrocarbon trade.
