Navy shoots down Iranian aircraft approaching US carrier, officials say

A United States Navy fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone that approached the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea on Tuesday.

United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said the “unmanned aircraft aggressively approached a US Navy Aircraft Carrier with unclear intent,” CENTCOM spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins said in a Tuesday statement. The drone still pursued a path towards the aircraft carrier despite de-escalatory measures taken by the carrier.

An F-35C jet from the USS Lincoln shot down the drone with no US personnel harmed and no damage to US equipment, according to Hawkins’ statement.

Hours later, a separate incident occurred in the Straits of Hormuz, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces “harassed a merchant vessel, M/V Steva Imperative, lawfully transiting the international sea passage,” the CENTCOM spokesman added. Two IRGC boats and an Iranian Mohajer drone approached the US tanker at high speeds and threatened to board and seize the vessel.

A guided missile destroyer, the USS McFaul, happened to be operating in the area near the vessel and immediately responded in order to escort the M/V Steva Imperative with US Air Force defensive air support, according to CENTCOM’s statement.

“CENTCOM forces are operating at the highest levels of professionalism and ensuring the safety of U.S. personnel, ships, and aircraft in the Middle East,” Hawkins added in the statement. “Continued Iranian harassment and threats in international waters and airspace will not be tolerated. Iran’s unnecessary aggression near U.S. forces, regional partners, and commercial vessels increases risks of collision, miscalculation, and regional destabilization.”

The United States Navy increased its naval vessels in the sea surrounding Iran following threats from the Iranian government. The USS Abraham Lincoln entered the Indian Ocean waters in January amidst those threats coming from Iran.

Iran faces international scrutiny over its Islamist government’s crackdown on anti-government protests. Reportedly, up to 30,000 protesters are dead due to the crackdown.

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