U.S. Central Command: "Lincoln" Carrier Still Operating Near Iran
The U.S. Central Command stated that the U.S. Navy's "Lincoln" aircraft carrier remains near Iranian waters and continues conducting flight operations with carrier-based fighters to destroy targets.
Prior to this, Iranian forces claimed they had launched missiles at the carrier. Iranian Navy Commander Irani said Tehran is tracking the carrier’s movements and will strike if it enters the range of Iran’s missile systems.
The U.S. Central Command wrote on the social platform X: “The USS Lincoln continues flight operations in the region targeting Iranian military objectives.”
The defense website Defence Security Asia reported on March 16 that the carrier had moved over 1,100 kilometers from Iran toward waters southwest of Oman. The report noted that the "Lincoln" adjusted its position following an attack by Iranian speedboats on a vessel within the carrier strike group.
Additionally, according to the U.S. Navy’s Sixth Fleet on March 23, the U.S. military’s largest carrier, the "Ford," has also departed the coastal areas near Iran—regions vulnerable to attack—and arrived at the Greek Crete naval base for repairs after a fire.
On February 28, the United States and Israel conducted multiple strikes against targets inside Iran, including attacks on Tehran, resulting in damage and civilian casualties. In response, Iran carried out retaliatory missile strikes on Israeli territory and U.S. military targets in the Middle East. As a result, shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has sharply declined.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical passage for Gulf states exporting oil and liquefied natural gas to global markets, with approximately 20% of the world’s oil, petroleum products, and liquefied natural gas passing through it.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1860695940495360/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.