IRGC claims USS Abraham Lincoln struck by ballistic missiles — US denies, carrier operational

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy broadcast a claim that its ballistic missiles had struck the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier operating in the Persian Gulf, causing 'heavy damage' and forcing it to 'retreat from Gulf waters.' The US military immediately rejected the claim, with a spokesperson stating the carrier 'remains fully operational and continues its mission in support of Operation Epic Fury.' The IRGC has a documented history of inflating battle damage claims during this conflict. However, the claim is significant as the first explicit assertion of a direct US carrier strike — a threshold that would represent a dramatic escalation if confirmed. The Abraham Lincoln is one of two US carriers operating in the region alongside the USS Gerald Ford, which suffered a non-combat fire in the Red Sea. US officials have not released imagery to independently verify the carrier's condition.