An Iranian vessel that approached the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) in the Arabian Sea was struck by U.S. missiles earlier this week after American forces tried to stop it from sailing too close to the carrier strike group.
U.S. officials told CBS News that a U.S. Navy vessel first tried to fire at the approaching ship using a 5-inch, 54-caliber Mark-45 naval gun, but the rounds missed the vessel several times.
After the failed attempt, a helicopter launched from the carrier strike group fired two Hellfire missiles, hitting the Iranian vessel. The condition of the ship and its crew has not been confirmed.
Officials said the naval gun used in the first attempt is the standard deck cannon mounted on many U.S. destroyers and cruisers. It has been in service with the fleet since the early 1970s.
The officials did not say whether the gunfire was meant as warning shots. They also did not identify which U.S. Navy vessel fired the rounds.
After the gunfire missed the target, a helicopter from the carrier strike group was sent to intercept the vessel. The aircraft fired two Hellfire missiles that struck the ship.
The type of helicopter used has not been confirmed. Both the MH-60R Seahawk and the AH-1Z Viper helicopters used by U.S. forces are capable of carrying Hellfire missiles.
The Iranian vessel’s current condition is not known. There has also been no public confirmation about the status of the crew.
The carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) is a nuclear-powered Nimitz-class aircraft carrier operating in the Arabian Sea as part of U.S. military operations targeting Iranian military assets.
The carrier strike group includes guided-missile destroyers such as USS Spruance (DDG-111) and USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112). Several other U.S. destroyers have also been operating in the region in recent weeks.
The carrier group arrived in the Middle East in late January after additional military deployments were ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump.
A separate incident took place earlier in February when an Iranian Shahed-139 drone approached the carrier. A U.S. fighter jet later shot down the drone after it moved toward the warship. U.S. officials said the drone’s maneuver toward the carrier was unnecessary and dangerous.
The latest encounter took place during rising naval tensions between the United States and Iran. The situation intensified after the United States launched Operation Epic Fury, a military campaign targeting Iranian military infrastructure.
According to United States Central Command, U.S. forces have damaged or destroyed more than 90 Iranian vessels since the conflict began. The campaign has included strikes on naval bases, missile launch sites, weapons facilities, and command centers.
Per reports, the Pentagon is considering sending another carrier strike group to the region built around the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77). If deployed, it would place three U.S. aircraft carrier strike groups in or near the Middle East.