Iran war live: US eyes indefinite Iran naval blockade

Reports indicate concerning living conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, a US aircraft carrier deployed in the Middle East for over 250 days since November. Sailors reportedly face food shortages, broken plumbing, and deteriorating mental health, with some family members reporting suicide attempts and a sailor going overboard. Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal has written to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth demanding answers about these hardships and the Navy's ability to sustain its operational tempo. Hegseth has called the reports "completely misrepresented." The carrier's prolonged deployment, initially to the South China Sea and then to the Middle East ahead of tensions with Iran, has raised questions about the strain on naval forces.

US senators are calling for an inquiry into reports of dire conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, which has been at sea for nearly seven months without a port stop amid the war on Iran. Senators have appealed to Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth for information and demanded access for a bipartisan congressional delegation to visit the ship. Reports cite declining mental health, shortages of supplies, and even instances of sailors attempting to jump overboard, according to family members and publications like Navy Times and Stars and Stripes. Senator Richard Blumenthal highlighted the record-long deployment and questioned the Navy's ability to sustain such operational tempos. Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao has stated that leadership continuously assesses sailors' psychological readiness, while Hegseth has called the reports of poor conditions "completely misrepresented."

The US Navy is sending the aircraft carrier USS George Washington to the Middle East. This deployment follows reports of mental health and supply issues aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been at sea for over 240 days in support of operations in the region. The USS George Washington departed from Da Nang, Vietnam, last week and has been observed transiting the Singapore Strait with a cruiser and a destroyer. This move indicates a shift in naval presence in the Middle East amid the extended deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that reports of deteriorating conditions and mental health struggles on the USS Abraham Lincoln are "completely misrepresented." This comes amid congressional pressure over the aircraft carrier's nearly nine-month deployment, supporting operations in the Middle East. Senator Richard Blumenthal has raised concerns about the extended deployment's impact on sailor well-being, citing reports of supply shortages, plumbing issues, and declining mental health. A sailor was reportedly rescued after going overboard last month, and other reports suggest crew members have attempted to jump from the ship due to exhaustion and low morale. The Navy has stated it has not identified an increase in reported suicidal ideation or attempts on board.