US Fighter Jet Shoots Down Iranian Drone

 A US fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone in the Arabian Sea early Tuesday after it aggressively approached a US aircraft carrier, the US military said.

According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), the incident occurred while the USS Abraham Lincoln was transiting international waters in the Arabian Sea, approximately 500 miles off Iran’s southern coast.

CENTCOM spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins said the Iranian Shahed-139 drone maneuvered toward the aircraft carrier despite de-escalation efforts by US forces.

“The USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) was operating in international waters when an Iranian Shahed-139 drone unnecessarily maneuvered toward the ship,” Hawkins said. “The drone continued to approach despite de-escalatory measures taken by US forces.”

An F-35C fighter jet launched from the carrier intercepted and shot down the drone in what the US military described as an act of self-defense to protect the vessel and its crew. No US personnel were injured, and no equipment was damaged.

Later the same day, a separate incident took place in the Strait of Hormuz, where two boats belonging to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), along with a Mohajer drone, approached a US-flagged and US-crewed commercial vessel. The craft reportedly threatened to board and seize the ship.

Hawkins said a US guided-missile destroyer responded promptly and is currently escorting the merchant vessel to ensure its safety.

“CENTCOM forces are operating at the highest levels of professionalism to ensure the safety of US personnel, ships, and aircraft in the region,” Hawkins said. “Continued Iranian harassment and threats in international waters and airspace will not be tolerated, as they increase the risk of miscalculation and regional instability.”