The U.S. military shot down an unmanned Iranian drone on Tuesday after it “aggressively approached” a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier operating in international waters.
The incident has been confirmed by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).
According to Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command, the incident occurred while USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) was transiting the Arabian Sea.
The vessel was roughly 500 miles off Iran’s southern coast.
Hawkins revealed that the drone “aggressively approached a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier with unclear intent.”
“USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) was transiting the Arabian Sea approximately 500 miles from Iran’s southern coast when an Iranian Shahed-139 drone unnecessarily maneuvered toward the ship,” Hawkins said in a statement.
CENTCOM said the drone ignored efforts by U.S. forces to de-escalate the situation.
“The Iranian drone continued to fly toward the ship despite de-escalatory measures taken by U.S. forces operating in international waters,” the command said.
An F-35C fighter jet launched from the aircraft carrier and ultimately destroyed the drone.
“An F-35C fighter jet from Abraham Lincoln shot down the Iranian drone in self-defense and to protect the aircraft carrier and personnel on board,” CENTCOM said.
Hawkins confirmed that no U.S. service members were injured and no American equipment was damaged during the encounter.
Hours later, U.S. forces responded to a second provocation by Iran in another key international waterway.
“During a separate incident hours later in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces harassed a U.S.-flagged, U.S.-crewed merchant vessel lawfully transiting the international sea passage,” Hawkins said.
According to CENTCOM, Iranian forces appeared to threaten the seizure of the vessel.
“Two IRGC boats and an Iranian Mohajer drone approached M/V Stena Imperative at high speeds and threatened to board and seize the tanker,” Hawkins said.
The U.S. Navy responded immediately.
“Guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul (DDG 74) was operating in the area and immediately responded to the scene to escort M/V Stena Imperative with defensive air support from the U.S. Air Force,” he said.
“The situation de-escalated as a result, and the U.S.-flagged tanker is proceeding safely.”
The incidents come as President Donald Trump has dramatically escalated U.S. military pressure on Iran, deploying a powerful naval force to the region.
“The USS Abraham Lincoln is in the Middle East after President Donald Trump said last week that ‘A massive Armada is heading to Iran,’” Hawkins noted.
Trump described the deployment in stark terms on Truth Social.
“It is moving quickly, with great power, enthusiasm, and purpose,” the president wrote.
“It is a larger fleet, headed by the great Aircraft Carrier Abraham Lincoln, than that sent to Venezuela.
“Like with Venezuela, it is, ready, willing, and able to rapidly fulfill its mission, with speed and violence, if necessary.”
Trump emphasized that diplomacy remains an option, but warned that time is short.
“Hopefully, Iran will quickly ‘Come to the Table’ and negotiate a fair and equitable deal — NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS — one that is good for all parties,” he wrote.
“Time is running out, it is truly of the essence!”
The drone shootdown and attempted harassment of a U.S.-flagged tanker underscore rising tensions in the region as the Trump administration signals it will not tolerate Iranian provocations against American forces or international commerce.
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