Iran Claims 7 U.S. Navy Personnel Killed, Several Injured In Clash Aboard USS Abraham Lincoln

Seven crew members aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln were reportedly killed and several others injured in a fight on the aircraft carrier, Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported.

The source said that the clash started after the adviser of the US Central Command (CENTCOM) Chief Brad Cooper arrived to discuss complaints of the crew members.

As stated by Tasnim, the atmosphere on board grew increasingly worse after the protests by the relatives of the crew members because of the long-term deployment of the ship.

The adviser was reportedly booed at the discussion, and several crew members threw water bottles when he was speaking.

After that, the situation escalated into a fight with the use of bladed weapons, resulting in the death of seven people and several injuries among others, the source added.

The official confirmation of the deaths from the US Navy hasn’t been received yet.

According to the report, the atmosphere on board of the aircraft carrier remains tense now.

The USS Abraham Lincoln has been deployed for 263 days and is currently operating in the Indian Ocean, according to the report.

The ship has been operating continuously for 208 days except for its brief stop in Oman in July. According to the report, this deployment is the longest in the history of the US aircraft carriers.

The latest reported clash occurred amid concerns voiced by the crew members about the living and work conditions aboard the ship carrying around 5,000 sailors and Marines.

It was reported that the sailors complain about the lack of food, which was sometimes limited to half a cup of rice and two pieces of meat.

The carrier’s laundry facilities have also reportedly been out of service for two weeks, while mold in shower areas has allegedly led to fungal infections among crew members.

Military families have also expressed concerns about exhaustion, mental health and the impact of the extended deployment on the crew’s ability to carry out their duties safely.

At a meeting in San Diego on Thursday, around 200 members of the families of the crew complained to the Acting US Navy Secretary Hung Cao about the conditions on the carrier and the absence of a clear timeline for the crew’s return.

The reported deaths aboard the Abraham Lincoln come months after another serious incident involving the USS Gerald R. Ford.

On March 12, 2026, a fire broke out in living quarters housing around 600 crew members, leaving 200 personnel injured, according to the information provided.

The Gerald R. Ford later transported the injured to a naval facility on the Greek island of Crete before returning to the United States.

References: PressTv, mehrnews