WASHINGTON — March 13, 2026 : U.S. naval forces engaged and struck an Iranian vessel that approached the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) in the Arabian Sea earlier this week, according to U.S. officials familiar with the incident. The engagement occurred while the carrier strike group was conducting operations in support of the ongoing U.S. military campaign against Iran, known as Operation Epic Fury.
Initial Naval Engagement
According to two U.S. officials briefed on the matter, the Iranian vessel approached the carrier strike group while the USS Abraham Lincoln was operating in the Arabian Sea. A U.S. Navy surface combatant escorting the carrier attempted to engage the vessel using its Mark-45 5-inch, 54-caliber naval deck gun, firing several rounds toward the approaching craft.
The shots did not strike the vessel. Officials have not confirmed whether the rounds were intended as warning fire or as direct engagement. The specific escort ship that fired the weapon has not been publicly identified.
The Mark-45 deck gun is the standard naval artillery system mounted on U.S. Navy destroyers and cruisers. Introduced in the early 1970s, the fully automated cannon is integrated with the Aegis combat system and is capable of firing up to 20 rounds per minute with an effective engagement range estimated between 13 and 20 nautical miles, depending on ammunition type.
Helicopter-Launched Hellfire Strike
After the unsuccessful gun engagement, a U.S. Navy helicopter was launched from the carrier strike group to intercept the vessel. Officials indicated that the aircraft was likely an MH-60R Seahawk, a multi-mission naval helicopter used for anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine operations, and maritime surveillance.
The helicopter fired two AGM-114 Hellfire missiles at the Iranian vessel, successfully striking the target. The Hellfire is a precision-guided air-to-surface missile commonly used by U.S. helicopters for engagements against small surface targets.
U.S. officials stated that the Iranian vessel was hit, but the current condition of the ship and its crew remains unknown. No further information has been released regarding potential casualties or the extent of the damage.
Limited Official Comment
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) declined to provide details on the encounter. In response to media inquiries, the command stated that it had “nothing for you on this.” Neither the Pentagon nor CENTCOM has issued a formal public statement describing the engagement, the identity of the Iranian vessel, or the exact circumstances of the approach.
Officials also did not confirm whether additional Iranian vessels were present in the vicinity during the incident.
Iranian Claims of Carrier Strike
Following the engagement, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a separate statement claiming that Iranian forces had launched a precision drone and ballistic missile strike targeting the USS Abraham Lincoln.
Iranian state media asserted that the attack caused significant damage to the Nimitz-class carrier, allegedly rendering the ship non-operational and forcing the strike group to withdraw from the area at high speed.
U.S. military officials rejected those claims. The Pentagon and CENTCOM stated that the reports were inaccurate and released a recent photograph of the carrier at sea, indicating that the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group continues to operate normally and support Operation Epic Fury.
U.S. officials added that Iranian missiles and drones did not come close to the carrier, and no damage to American vessels or aircraft has been reported.
Carrier Strike Group Deployment
The USS Abraham Lincoln, a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, has been operating in the Arabian Sea since late January as part of a carrier strike group assigned to regional operations.
The strike group includes several guided-missile destroyers providing air defense, missile defense, and maritime security for the carrier. Confirmed escort vessels include USS Spruance (DDG-111) and USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112), with six additional guided-missile destroyers reported to be operating in the region as of last week.
Carrier strike groups are structured to provide layered defense against aerial, missile, and surface threats while enabling sustained air operations from the carrier’s embarked air wing.
Previous Close Approach Incident
The encounter marks the second reported close approach involving Iranian assets and the USS Abraham Lincoln in recent months.
In early February 2026, an Iranian Shahed-139 drone approached the carrier while it was operating in the region. The drone was intercepted and destroyed by a U.S. fighter aircraft launched from the carrier before it reached the strike group.
U.S. officials did not indicate whether the vessel involved in the latest incident was affiliated with the IRGC Navy, Iran’s regular navy, or another maritime unit.
Wider Naval Conflict
The incident occurred amid an ongoing high-intensity maritime conflict between U.S. and Iranian forces in the Middle East. According to figures released by U.S. Central Command, American forces have damaged or destroyed more than 90 Iranian vessels since the broader conflict began.
These vessels reportedly include small fast-attack craft, coastal minelaying boats, unmanned maritime systems, and larger logistics or base ships operating in regional waters.
U.S. officials confirmed that no American service members were injured during the latest engagement and that no U.S. ships or equipment were damaged. The USS Abraham Lincoln and its escorts continue to conduct operations in support of U.S. military objectives in the region.
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