An Iranian vessel sailing close to a United States aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea was struck by American missiles after it approached the warship. According to a CBS News report citing U.S. officials familiar with the incident, the ship had moved too near the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN‑72) carrier strike group when U.S. forces attempted to engage it, the officials said.
Initial attempts to disable the vessel using a naval deck gun reportedly failed to hit the target, prompting a helicopter strike.
Officials said a U.S. Navy vessel first attempted to fire at the approaching ship using a 5-inch Mark-45 naval gun, a fully automated deck cannon used on destroyers and cruisers.
However, the rounds missed the vessel. A helicopter carrying Hellfire missiles reportedly launched from the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group fired two missiles at the Iranian vessel, successfully hitting it after earlier attempts with a naval gun had failed.
The condition of the ship and the fate of its crew have not been publicly confirmed. U.S. officials told CBS News the incident occurred earlier this week, but the details were disclosed only later.
Destroyers escorting USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group
The USS Abraham Lincoln is currently operating in the Arabian Sea as part of U.S. military operations targeting Iranian military assets. The carrier is accompanied by guided-missile destroyers, including the 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 as part of the broader naval buildup. The Lincoln carrier strike group arrived in the Middle East in late January, following President Donald Trump’s order of additional military deployments to the region.
Also Read: US Using Nuclear Powered Aircraft Carriers in War with Iran
In early February, an Iranian Shahed‑139 drone approached the carrier in what U.S. officials described as an aggressive maneuver.
A U.S. fighter jet ultimately shot down the drone after it moved toward the carrier. Military officials later said the drone’s approach had been unnecessary and dangerous.
The incident comes amid a widening naval confrontation between the United States and Iran following the launch of Operation Epic Fury, the U.S. military campaign targeting Iranian military infrastructure.
According to the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), American forces have already damaged or destroyed more than 90 Iranian vessels since the conflict began.
The campaign has included strikes on naval bases, missile sites, weapons facilities, and command centers.
As tensions continue to escalate, the United States is reportedly increasing its naval deployments to the Middle East.
A report by Fox News earlier this week revealed that the Pentagon is preparing to send another carrier strike group to the region centered around the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN‑77).
It would become the third American aircraft carrier strike group operating in or near the Middle East if deployed.
French soldier killed in Iraqi Kurdistan attack
Amid heightened military activity, President Emmanuel Macron of France revealed on Friday, March 13, that an attack killed a French soldier in Erbil in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region.
Macron posted on X, confirming the first French military death in the Middle East war and noting several wounded, which the French military attributed to a drone attack during a training exercise.
The president added that several other soldiers had been wounded in the incident, which the French military earlier said was a drone attack on troops carrying out a training exercise.
The French military had earlier said six of its soldiers were wounded in the drone attack. A member of the general staff told AFP that the troops were “engaged in training activities on counterterrorism with Iraqi partners,” adding the troops were taken to the nearest medical facility.
Meanwhile, a U.S. military refuelling aircraft crashed in western Iraq during ongoing operations tied to the war with Iran.
In a statement on Friday, CENTCOM reported the loss of a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker during Operation Epic Fury, a campaign targeting Iranian military infrastructure.
Also Read: US Military Plane Crashes in Foreign Nation During Iran War Operation
The aircraft was operating in what the command described as friendly airspace when the incident occurred.
“U.S. Central Command is aware of the loss of a U.S. KC-135 refuelling aircraft. The incident occurred in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury, and rescue efforts are ongoing,” the command said.
Two U.S. military aircraft involved in a midair incident in Iraq
CENTCOM added that two aircraft were involved in the incident. One of the aircraft crashed in western Iraq, while the second aircraft landed safely. The command emphasized the crash was not caused by hostile or friendly fire, suggesting an operational or mechanical issue.
The number of crew members aboard the aircraft has not yet been publicly disclosed. As of March 10, at least seven U.S. service members had died during or from injuries sustained in the operation.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed armed factions, has since claimed responsibility for downing the U.S. military refueling aircraft.
In a statement, the group said it had shot down the KC-135 aircraft “in defense of our country’s sovereignty and airspace”.
