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On February 3, 2026, a U.S. Navy F-35C stealth fighter jet launched from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln shot down an Iranian drone in the Arabian Sea. The incident happened while the USS Abraham Lincoln, a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered carrier, was sailing about 500 miles (around 800 kilometers) from Iran's southern coast in international waters.
According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the Iranian drone—identified as a Shahed-139 model—"aggressively approached" the carrier with "unclear intent." U.S. forces first tried de-escalatory measures, but the drone kept flying toward the ship. The F-35C then shot it down "in self-defense and to protect the carrier and personnel on board." No U.S. service members were harmed, and no American equipment was damaged.
This event took place amid rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran. The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group had recently arrived in the Middle East as part of a larger U.S. military buildup in the region. The incident came just hours before another event where Iranian Revolutionary Guard boats and a drone harassed a U.S.-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting a U.S. destroyer to respond and escort the ship safely.
The Shahed-139 is a long-range drone often used by Iran and its allies, similar in some ways to the U.S. MQ-1 Predator. Officials described the drone's actions as unnecessary and aggressive, raising concerns about potential escalation. This happened as diplomats were working on possible nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran, with President Trump warning that military options remain if diplomacy fails.
Oil prices rose slightly after the news, reflecting market worries about stability in the region. The U.S. military emphasized that the action was defensive and necessary to safeguard its forces.
This incident highlights the ongoing risks in the Middle East, where naval operations and drone activities can quickly lead to confrontations.
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