On February 3, US military shot down an Iranian Shahed-139 drone approaching the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea.
Drone Incident
On Tuesday (February 3) the American military shot down an Iranian drone that was approaching the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea. This information was conveyed by a US government official to the Reuters agency. It was an Iranian Shahed-139 drone flying toward the American unit.
The aircraft was reportedly shot down by an F-35 fighter jet belonging to the armed forces of the United States. According to the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), the aircraft carrier was sailing about 800 kilometers from the southern coast of Iran.
CENTCOM spokesman Tim Hawkins stated that the drone was shot down “in self-defense and to protect the aircraft carrier and its personnel”. US Central Command stated in a statement that the unmanned aerial vehicle “aggressively approached” the ship “with unclear intent” and continued flying toward it despite de-escalation actions taken by US forces operating in international waters.
Related Hormuz Incident
The drone incident occurred within hours of another event in the Strait of Hormuz. The US military reported that units of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps harassed the Stena Imperative tanker sailing under the American flag with an American crew.
Two fast boats and an Iranian drone reportedly approached the ship at high speed and threatened to seize it.
US Military Buildup in Region
Recently, Americans have strengthened their military presence near Iran. In addition to the Lincoln aircraft carrier, the region has been sent, among other things, the USS Delbert D. Black missile destroyer, increasing the number of US destroyers in the Middle East to six.
The USS Delbert D. Black ship docked in the port of Eilat on the Red Sea. According to the Israeli army, this was a previously planned action and an element of ongoing cooperation with the USA. Israeli media emphasized that the entry of US ships into Eilat is rare.
Increased Surveillance Activity
In recent days, there has been a concentration of reconnaissance and command means in the region. According to reports based on data from flight tracking services, an MQ-4C Triton unmanned aerial vehicle was operating over the Persian Gulf, and P-8 Poseidon aircraft as well as early warning and communication aircraft appeared in the region.
Analysts indicated that such “package supplementation” is typical when armed forces prepare for operations, although it does not necessarily mean its commencement. Some movements may be related to planned exercises – such reservations are formulated by analytical companies monitoring risk in the region.
Iranian Military Activities
Meanwhile, Iran is conducting maneuvers with live ammunition in the Strait of Hormuz area, crucial for global oil supplies.