The U.S. military on Sunday denied Iranian claims that it hit the San Diego-based USS Abraham Lincoln, saying the missiles “didn’t even come close.”
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a statement saying the giant warship was struck by four ballistic missiles. But the Pentagon quickly labled that “a lie.”
“The Lincoln was not hit. The missiles launched didn’t even come close,” Central Command said in a post on X.
“The Lincoln continues to launch aircraft in support of CENTCOM’s relentless campaign to defend the American people by eliminating threats from the Iranian regime.”
The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and its escorting destroyers are operating in the northern Arabian Sea off Oman, launching strikes under Operation Epic Fury in an effort to topple the Iranian government.
While the Lincoln was not hit, Central Command reported that three U.S. service members have been killed in action and five are seriously wounded. No further details were provided.
“The situation is fluid, so out of respect for the families, we will withhold additional information, including the identities of our fallen warriors, until 24 hours after next of kin have been notified,” according to a statement.
The operation that began Saturday has killed Iran’s supreme leader, the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had ruled the Islamic nation since 1989.
President Trump has called for Iranians to seize control of their country now that Khamenei is gone.
