US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln leaves Middle East after 9 months of service

The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier is leaving the Middle East after nine months of service. The sailors and Marines aboard it are returning home, a US official told CBS News on August 20.

The USS Abraham Lincoln has been replaced by another US aircraft carrier based in Japan, the USS George Washington. The families of the service members have raised concerns about the mental health of the ship’s crew, as well as about sanitation and food shortages.

The USS Abraham Lincoln and its nearly 5,000 crew members departed San Diego on November 21, 2025. The war with Iran, which began in February, has extended their mission and increased their workload. The ship serves as a launch pad for thousands of aircraft in support of strikes.

The families’ concerns were reported in Military Times and Stars and Stripes. The situation has raised concerns on Capitol Hill. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump have tried to dismiss those concerns. Trump said the ship has not been in service long enough. Acting Navy Secretary Hang Kao called media reports of the conditions “false.”

Admiral Brad Cooper, the commander of U.S. Central Command, visited the USS Abraham Lincoln over the weekend to try to address the complaints. Cooper said that serving at sea is inherently difficult and demanding.

“We all react differently to stressors, including myself,” he added.

The Navy said there has been no increase in suicide attempts or thoughts on the ship. It is also investigating the Aug. 3 incident where a sailor fell overboard and was rescued. It could take about three weeks for the aircraft carrier to return to San Diego.