A U.S. Navy vessel opened fire on an Iranian ship that approached the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea, according to two U.S. officials briefed on the incident.
The confrontation occurred when the Iranian vessel sailed dangerously close to one of America’s most powerful aircraft carriers. U.S. Central Command has not issued an official public statement about the engagement.
What Happened
A U.S. Navy destroyer initially engaged the Iranian ship using a 5-inch, 54-caliber Mark-45 naval gun, a fully automated deck-mounted cannon standard on American destroyers and cruisers since the early 1970s. The gun, mounted on the forward deck, missed the Iranian vessel multiple times, according to the officials.
It remains unclear whether the shots were precision strikes or warning shots intended to deter the approaching vessel. Officials did not clarify the intent behind the initial rounds fired.
After the unsuccessful cannon fire, an armed military helicopter was launched and struck the Iranian vessel with two Hellfire missiles. The AGM-114 Hellfire is a precision-guided weapon that uses laser or radar guidance systems and is widely used against surface vessels and other targets.
The current condition of the Iranian ship and the status of its crew remain unknown. U.S. officials have not released information about casualties or vessel damage.
Military Assets Involved
The USS Abraham Lincoln is one of two American aircraft carriers currently deployed to the Middle East. Two destroyers-the USS Spruance and the USS Michael Murphy-are deployed alongside the Lincoln as part of its carrier strike group.
The helicopter used in the strike was likely either an MH-60R Seahawk, operated by the U.S. Navy for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, or a Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter. Officials have not specified which type was used in this engagement.
Pattern of Escalation
This incident is part of a broader pattern of confrontations between American and Iranian forces in the Arabian Sea. In early February, an Iranian Shahed-139 drone approached the USS Abraham Lincoln, and an American fighter jet shot it down.
The Abraham Lincoln strike group arrived in the Middle East in late January. Since formal U.S. military operations against Iran began, American forces have reportedly damaged or destroyed more than 90 Iranian naval vessels, according to figures released by U.S. Central Command.
The presence of two American aircraft carriers in the region simultaneously represents a significant show of force and reflects the seriousness with which U.S. military planners are approaching current tensions.
Official Response
When contacted by media, U.S. Central Command provided only a brief statement: “We have nothing for you on this.” No further elaboration or official confirmation was issued by the Pentagon.
The Iranian government has not yet responded publicly to this specific incident, though Tehran has consistently condemned U.S. military operations in the region since the conflict began.
This story has been updated. CNN’s David Shortell contributed to this report.
