Iran alleges its Navy targeted the USS Abraham Lincoln with drones, escalating tensions with the U.S. and Israel in the Gulf region.
The tension between the United States, Israel, and Iran in the waters of the Middle East has entered a new phase, not only through mutual military interventions but also in the realm of propaganda warfare. According to a new claim published by Tehran Radio, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy conducted a new operation against the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which is operating in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.
According to information based on military sources from Tehran Radio, the operation was carried out using kamikaze unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) belonging to the Revolutionary Guards. It is claimed that numerous UAVs hit the aircraft carrier. This claim comes immediately after Iran's assertion that it launched four ballistic and cruise missiles at the same ship about four days ago, hitting the vessel. Iranian officials had suggested at that time that the missiles caused significant damage to the ship.
Along with the new UAV attack claim, the Iranian side asserted that the USS Abraham Lincoln departed its position at full speed with protective destroyer ships after sustaining hits. Tehran Radio alleged that the ship 'fled' more than a thousand kilometers away from the region towards the southeast Indian Ocean to ensure its safety. This claim is considered part of Iran's strategy to exert pressure on U.S. naval presence in the region.
The missile attack claim from four days ago was swiftly and strongly denied by the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). CENTCOM even stated that the missiles did not come close to the ship, labeling the claim as 'false.' As for the new 'we hit with UAVs' claim published by Tehran Radio, there has yet to be an official new denial or statement from U.S. authorities. However, the mutual statements between the parties in the region are being closely monitored with concern in the maritime community. The ongoing information warfare is heightening worries regarding the safety of global maritime trade and tanker traffic conducted through the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf. Industry stakeholders are closely watching the impact of military activity in the region on maritime operations.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
