Iranian Media Reports Seven US Troops Killed in Clash Aboard USS Abraham Lincoln

Seven US Navy personnel were reportedly killed and several others injured in a violent clash aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, according to Iranian media, which cited growing unrest among the crew due to an extended deployment. The incident was reported by Tasnim News Agency, quoting military sources, and has not been independently verified or confirmed by US military officials.

The confrontation allegedly began when an advisor to the Commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), Brad Cooper, boarded the vessel to address mounting complaints from sailors. The advisor was reportedly met with jeers and had water bottles thrown at him while speaking to assembled personnel. The situation escalated into a brawl involving knives and other sharp weapons, resulting in the reported fatalities and injuries.

Iranian state media outlet Press TV described the atmosphere on board as still tense and uncertain. The USS Abraham Lincoln has been on deployment for 263 days, operating in the Indian Ocean with a mission to enforce what Iran describes as an illegal maritime blockade against the country. The carrier has spent 208 consecutive days at sea, the longest uninterrupted deployment for a US aircraft carrier in the modern era, with only a brief stop in Oman in July.

Reports of the violence surfaced amid growing concerns over living and working conditions for the approximately 5,000 sailors and Marines on board. Crew members have reportedly protested inadequate food supplies, with rations allegedly reduced to half a cup of rice and two pieces of meat. The ship’s laundry facilities were said to be inoperative for two weeks, and mould in the bathrooms has caused fungal infections among some personnel. Families of the crew have raised concerns about fatigue, mental health, and the impact of the relentless operational tempo on the crew’s ability to perform their duties safely.

At a meeting in San Diego, around 200 relatives urged Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao to address the conditions aboard the carrier and the uncertain return schedule for the crew. The reported deaths on the Abraham Lincoln follow another serious incident involving the USS Gerald R. Ford, where a fire in a berthing area housing around 600 personnel resulted in 200 injuries on 12 March 2026. The Gerald R. Ford subsequently transported the injured to a naval facility on the island of Crete, Greece, before being forced to return to the United States.