Iran claims missile and drone attack on US warship USS Abraham Lincoln; US denies damage

Washington: Tensions in West Asia escalated further after Iran claimed that it had launched missile and drone attacks on the American aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln operating in regional waters. The claim was made on Thursday by Iran’s powerful military wing, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

According to Iranian state media reports, the attack targeted the US naval vessel while it was operating near the Gulf of Oman. Iranian officials said the strike involved advanced missiles and unmanned aerial drones and was carried out by naval units from Iran.

Iranian media outlet Press TV reported that the warship was hit during the operation and was forced to withdraw from the area. Iranian authorities also claimed that the vessel was attacked approximately 340 kilometres away from Iran’s coastline.

However, the United States Central Command has strongly denied the Iranian claims. US military officials said there was no damage to the aircraft carrier and that the ship continues to operate normally in the region.

In a post shared on social media platform X, US Central Command stated that the strike group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln remains fully operational and continues to support ongoing military missions in the region. The post also included images of the carrier conducting routine operations at sea.

According to US officials quoted by American media outlets, an Iranian vessel had earlier attempted to fire upon the US ship using a naval gun system. In response, American forces reportedly carried out defensive actions against the Iranian vessel to neutralize the threat.

The incident reportedly occurred only hours after another major development in the region. An American military aircraft involved in aerial refuelling operations was reportedly shot down in Iraq by a group described as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq. The aircraft was said to have been carrying five personnel at the time of the incident.

Iranian authorities said their actions were part of efforts to defend the country’s sovereignty and respond to foreign military pressure in nearby waters. However, they have not provided detailed information regarding the extent of damage to the US vessel or possible casualties.

The conflicting claims from Iran and the United States highlight the rapidly escalating tensions across West Asia. Military analysts warn that such incidents at sea could further intensify the already fragile security situation in the region.

With both sides offering sharply different accounts of the events, independent verification of the alleged attack remains unclear. Observers say developments in the coming days will be closely watched by the international community as concerns grow about the possibility of a wider regional confrontation.

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