US Military Shoots Down Iranian Drone Near USS Abraham Lincoln in Arabian Sea

Incident in the Arabian Sea

On Tuesday, February 3, 2026, a U.S. F-35C fighter jet successfully shot down an Iranian drone in the Arabian Sea. The incident occurred approximately 500 miles (800 kilometers) from Iran's southern coast, where the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier was operating. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that the Iranian drone 'aggressively approached' the carrier with 'unclear intent' and 'unnecessarily maneuvered' toward the ship, despite de-escalatory measures taken by U.S. forces operating in international waters.

U.S. Justification and Details

U.S. Central Command spokesman Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins confirmed the shootdown, stating that the action was taken 'in self-defense and to protect the aircraft carrier and personnel on board'. The drone was identified as a Shahed-139, a type of unmanned aerial vehicle. No American personnel were injured, and no U.S. equipment was damaged during the event. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt further emphasized that the drone was 'acting aggressively' and that CENTCOM's decision to shoot it down was 'appropriately and necessarily' made to protect U.S. personnel and equipment.

Iranian Response and Regional Context

In response to the incident, Iranian state media, specifically the Tasnim News Agency, which is affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), claimed the drone was on a 'routine and lawful mission over international waters'. The agency reported that the drone was conducting surveillance and reconnaissance and successfully transmitted images back to its command center before losing communication.

This event unfolded hours after a separate confrontation in the region, where Iranian forces harassed a U.S.-flagged and U.S.-crewed merchant vessel, the M/V Stena Imperative, in the Strait of Hormuz. The USS McFaul, a guided-missile destroyer, intervened to escort the merchant vessel to safety, supported by U.S. Air Force air cover. These incidents highlight heightened tensions between the United States and Iran in the Middle East.