Reports from the Persian Gulf indicate the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) has moved to an unusually close position approximately 130 kilometers off Iran's coast. An F-35C fighter was seen taking off from the carrier as it transits the Arabian Sea, supporting the US naval blockade of Iran.
The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group has moved to approximately 130 kilometers off Iran's coast, according to reports from the Persian Gulf on Sunday evening. The position is closer than the 200 km distance reported moments earlier by satellite imagery analyzed by The Zioneer, indicating a rapid advance deeper into waters near Iran's southeastern coast.
An F-35C stealth fighter was observed launching from the carrier as it crosses the Arabian Sea, part of the sustained US naval blockade of the Islamic Republic. The blockade, enforced by a multi-carrier force including the USS George H.W. Bush and amphibious assets, has been a key element of Operation Epic Fury.
This is a developing story. The precise timing of the move and whether it reflects a tactical shift or routine patrol remain unclear.
2 developments
- DevelopingSatellite imagery shows USS Abraham Lincoln carrier 140+ km off Iran's Chabahar coast
- StrongNew York Post: US stations two aircraft carriers in Gulf of Oman as pressure on Iran grows
- DevelopingUS C-130H Hercules departs Saudi Arabia, heads east over the Arabian Sea
- StrongCENTCOM releases new footage of F-35Bs taking off from USS Boxer in Arabian Sea
Source and signal
- Open-source intake