Iran media claims seven US sailors killed in clash aboard USS Abraham Lincoln

Seven US sailors were killed and several others injured in a reported clash among crew members aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, the US aircraft carrier involved in military operations against Iran, Iranian news agency Tasnim reported.

However, the claim has not been independently verified.

According to Tasnim, tensions had been mounting among the carrier’s crew after the vessel remained deployed for an extended period. The sailors’ families had also reportedly raised concerns over the prolonged deployment.

The report said an adviser to US Central Command chief Brad Cooper travelled to the carrier to address the crew over the situation. During a gathering, sailors reportedly booed the adviser and threw water bottles at him while he was speaking.

The confrontation allegedly escalated into a physical clash among crew members, with Tasnim claiming that knives and other sharp objects were used. The incident reportedly left seven sailors dead and several others injured.

Tasnim further claimed that tensions remained high aboard the carrier following the confrontation. However, neither the US Navy nor US Central Command has publicly confirmed the reported deaths or injuries.

The US military had previously confirmed that a sailor aboard the Abraham Lincoln was injured in March, but said the incident was unrelated to combat.

The USS Abraham Lincoln has been deployed for an extended period in waters around the Middle East and has played a role in US military operations against Iran. The carrier typically operates with thousands of sailors and Marines aboard.

However, several details in the Tasnim report, including the carrier’s current location, the length of its deployment and the circumstances surrounding the alleged clash, could not be independently verified.

For now, the reported deaths of seven US sailors remain an unverified claim by Iranian state-linked media, with no confirmation from US military authorities.