USS Abraham Lincoln moves farther from Iran after reported drone threats
Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) sails alongside Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Frank E Petersen Jr (DDG 121) in the Arabian Sea. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
Reports circulating on social media suggested that the US nuclear aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln had moved more than 1,000 km from Iranian shores after being targeted by Iranian drones.
A post shared by RT on X (formerly Twitter) cited “latest Chinese satellite intel” indicating the carrier “has now retreated to roughly 1,000 km from Iranian shores.” The post also said the Lincoln carrier group was “quivering in the lee of Port Salalah in Oman, in the north Arabian Sea.”
USS Lincoln nuclear supercarrier 'retreats quivering 1,000km' as 'hit by Iran' — Chinese satellite pic.twitter.com/1wj1Qzivcz
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed its drones struck the carrier, forcing it to relocate. The US military has denied these claims, stating that Iranian missiles or drones did not hit the ship.
Some online fact-checks have also noted that some videos circulating online about the alleged strike were misleading or AI-generated. Satellite imagery confirms that the carrier group moved farther from Iranian waters in the Gulf of Oman, but analysts caution that this movement does not confirm that an attack took place.
Read: Trump accuses Iran of using AI to spread disinformation
US President Donald Trump's call for a multinational coalition to secure the Strait of Hormuz has met resistance from key allies, as Japan and Australia both declined to send naval vessels to the region. The Strait, a vital chokepoint through which roughly 20% of the world’s energy supplies transit, has become a flashpoint amid the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran, which erupted on February 28.
Trump insisted that nations dependent on Gulf oil bear responsibility for protecting the waterway, warning that failure to act could threaten NATO’s future. While Japan cited constitutional restrictions and legal frameworks as limiting its involvement, Australia confirmed it would not contribute to escorting ships through the Strait, emphasizing that the matter had not been formally requested of them.
The conflict has continued to roil the region, disrupting global energy markets and international travel. Brent crude climbed above $104.50 per barrel as fears grew over potential attacks on Middle Eastern oil facilities. Iranian vessels and a few foreign ships have managed to traverse the Strait, but for most tanker traffic, passage has been effectively blocked. Meanwhile, Israel has continued air and limited ground operations against positions in Lebanon and Gaza, targeting Iran-backed groups like Hezbollah and Hamas.
Drone attacks on Gulf states have also persisted, temporarily halting flights in Dubai and prompting Saudi Arabia to intercept dozens of drones in its eastern region. Despite US assurances of a swift resolution, Iranian officials have reaffirmed their readiness to defend the country and disputed claims of seeking negotiations or a ceasefire.