US Aircraft Carrier Leaves Middle East After 9-Month Mission
The USS Abraham Lincoln has ended its mission in the Middle East and is heading back to San Diego after nine months at sea
The USS Abraham Lincoln, a US aircraft carrier, has left the Middle East after a nine-month mission. The ship, with its crew of around 5,000 sailors, began its journey back to San Diego on Thursday. The USS George Washington, another aircraft carrier based in Japan, has taken its place in the region.
## Background on the Mission The USS Abraham Lincoln was deployed in the Middle East as part of US operations against Iran. In recent weeks, there have been reports of deteriorating living conditions on board due to logistical challenges caused by the destruction of a US naval base in Bahrain by Iran. The base was an important supply center for the US Navy.
The ship left San Diego in November and spent the next 272 days at sea, with only brief stops in Guam and Oman for resupply. Thousands of sailors did not have any days off during this period and now face a journey of around 21,000 kilometers back to California, which could take four to five weeks.
## Conditions on Board According to reports, the living conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln had deteriorated significantly due to logistical challenges. There were reports of shortages of basic supplies, contaminated water, plumbing problems, and deteriorating mental health among the crew. However, Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of the US Central Command, has downplayed these issues, calling them "old news".
## US Naval Presence in the Region The US Navy maintains around 20 warships in the Middle East, outside of the Persian Gulf. These include two carrier strike groups led by the USS George H.W. Bush and USS George Washington, an amphibious group transporting a Marine Expeditionary Unit, and several destroyers enforcing a renewed blockade of Iranian ports. The blockade, which was renewed by President Donald Trump, has been in place for 38 days.
## Handover of Responsibilities The USS George Washington has taken over the responsibilities of the USS Abraham Lincoln in the region. The US Central Command has wished the crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln "fair winds and following seas", a traditional US Navy farewell. The USS George Washington began operating under the command of the US Central Command on Wednesday.
