USS George Washington Relieves USS Abraham Lincoln in Middle East
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The USS George Washington aircraft carrier arrived in the Middle East on Thursday to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been on deployment in the region for nearly nine months, U.S. Central Command announced.
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The Guardian USThe USS George Washington aircraft carrier has arrived in the Middle East, where it is expected to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln from its record deployment amid concerns about poor living conditions and morale.
USA TodayWASHINGTON — The USS George Washington aircraft carrier has arrived in the Middle East to replace a similar vessel, the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has faced scrutiny over conditions and declining morale amid extended deployment during the war in Iran.
The HillAircraft carrier arrives in Middle East to relieve USS Lincoln after lengthy deployment The USS George Washington aircraft carrier arrived in the Middle East theater this week to provide relief for the USS Abraham Lincoln, whose lengthy deployment has drawn scrutiny over reports of worsening sailors’ mental health and supply shortages while supporting the U.S. war against Iran. The U.S. military confirmed on Thursday that the USS George…
New York PostWASHINGTON — The USS George Washington has arrived in the Arabian Sea to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln from the longest American naval deployment since the Cold War.
Associated PressWASHINGTON (AP) — The Asia-based USS George Washington aircraft carrier is now operating in the Middle East, the U.S. military said Thursday, relieving a long-deployed carrier following reports of mental health challenges and supply shortages aboard while it was supporting the Iran war.
New York TimesU.S.S. Abraham Lincoln Leaves Middle East After Months at Sea in Operation Against Iran The aircraft carrier has been deployed for nine months, largely in support of U.S. operations against Iran, and is now heading home to San Diego.
PBS NewsHourNews Wrap: USS Abraham Lincoln heading home after 9-month deployment In our news wrap Thursday, U.S. military says the USS Abraham Lincoln is heading home following a roughly nine-month deployment and reports of poor living conditions, storms and at least one tornado tore through parts of Germany overnight and China sentenced the founder of Evergrande to life in prison five years after the company's collapse sent shockwaves through China's economy.
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Her account comes as recent reports have rung alarm bells about conditions onboard the Lincoln, which has spent more than 250 days at sea supporting US operations against Iran without a significant port visit or date to return home for the 5,000 sailors aboard.
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USA TodayThe 5,000 sailors and Marines aboard the Lincoln have been at sea since November 2025 and have supported the U.S. war in Iran for the past eight months. Their deployment was originally anticipated to end in May, but no date has since been set for their return, with no end in sight to the war.
Washington ExaminerReports have emerged of dire conditions aboard the ship, as families of service members on the Abraham Lincoln plead for help. The ship has set a modern Navy record for the longest uninterrupted time at sea without a port visit, as it was supposed to return home in June. The deployment was extended as the Iran war continued.
Associated PressThe Washington arrived as concerns have grown about the Lincoln’s lengthy deployment, which has included a record-setting uninterrupted time at sea of more than 250 days, and about reports of crew stress and poor mental health, as well as supply shortages, including food and hygiene products.
New York PostThe Lincoln and its crew of 5,000 will now head home to San Diego after its grueling nearly nine-month deployment that saw reports of weary sailors attempting to jump overboard.
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Over the weekend, Adm Brad Cooper of US Central Command visited the ship, and released a statement saying the Lincoln “currently has among the lowest number of cases related to mental health” of the navy’s 11 active aircraft carriers, but acknowledged “that doesn’t mean all is perfect”, describing long deployments at sea as “uniquely challenging and tough”.
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Associated PressHegseth spoke with the Lincoln’s crew last week, and Adm. Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, visited this past weekend. In an editorial published Sunday by The Wall Street Journal, Cooper said the crew “delivered a performance for the ages, and now you are going home.”
USA TodayAdm. Brad Cooper, who serves as head of the U.S. Central Command, wrote in a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed that he visited the USS Abraham Lincoln on Aug. 15, and in an address to the vessels sailors, told them: "You have delivered a performance for the ages, and now you are going home.”
New York PostAdm. Brad Cooper, the head of CENTCOM, had visited the aircraft carrier on Saturday and conceded that the sailors on board were “tired.”
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01 New York Post US Central Command confirmed that the Washington, which is typically based near Japan, arrived in the Middle East on Wednesday.
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02 The Guardian US In an interview this week, the wife of a sailor onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln told the Guardian that she has been getting brief glimpses over the past few months of what life is like on the aircraft carrier, mostly through text messages. And that as the deployment has stretched on, and on, she has noticed a change in her husband’s messages.
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03 USA Today The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a question from USA TODAY on the timing of the USS Lincoln's return.
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04 New York Times Weary U.S. Aircraft Carrier Leaves the Middle East Also, Russia takes advantage of Ukraine’s depleted stockpile. Here’s the latest at the end of Thursday.
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05 Washington Examiner The George Washington is the Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier and typically operates in the western Pacific Ocean. It is a nuclear-powered Nimitz-class carrier that can accommodate over 6,000 service members.
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06 Associated Press Extended deployments of carriers wear on service members who are away from home for long periods and increase strain on the ship and its equipment. While renewed hostilities between the U.S. and Iran calmed in recent weeks, the Navy is enforcing a reimposed blockade on Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz, and the Trump administration has offered no clarity on how it intends to wind down the war.
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