US Denies Iranian Missile Strike on USS Abraham Lincoln as Both Sides Confirm Naval Clash in Persian Gulf

Photo: Facebook /  Fossbytes A sharp escalation in tensions between the United States and Iran unfolded after Tehran claimed it carried out ...

Photo: Facebook / Fossbytes

A sharp escalation in tensions between the United States and Iran unfolded after Tehran claimed it carried out a direct missile strike against the US Navy’s USS Abraham Lincoln, a claim swiftly denied by American military officials. The incident comes amid confirmed naval combat in the Persian Gulf and rising casualties tied to the widening regional conflict.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it launched four ballistic missiles at the aircraft carrier as part of what it called “Operation True Promise 4.” In a statement circulated by Iranian state-linked outlets, the IRGC warned that “the land and sea will increasingly become the graveyard of the terrorist aggressors,” framing the alleged strike as retaliation within the ongoing confrontation.

The US military rejected the account outright. US Central Command stated that the USS Abraham Lincoln was not struck and that the missiles did not come close to the carrier. Officials added that the vessel remained fully operational and continued launching aircraft during active missions, underscoring that no disruption occurred.

Separately, the United States confirmed it sank an Iranian warship in the Persian Gulf, marking the first acknowledged direct naval engagement between Washington and Tehran in the current phase of the conflict. US defense officials did not release further details about the Iranian vessel or the circumstances of the engagement, citing operational security.

The violence has not been confined to military targets. The US military confirmed that three American service members were killed and five seriously wounded in operations connected to the conflict. Iranian missile strikes also struck civilian areas in Beit Shemesh, killing six people and raising fears of broader regional fallout involving Israel.

With sharply conflicting narratives from Washington and Tehran, the incident highlights the fragile and volatile nature of the standoff. As both sides signal resolve and issue warnings, international observers are watching closely for signs that the confrontation could expand beyond isolated strikes into a wider regional war.