US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that the aircraft carrier USS George Washington and its strike group arrived in the Middle East area of operations on Wednesday as part of a pre-scheduled deployment.
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On Thursday, CENTCOM published a photo of US Navy personnel on the carrier's flight deck during its transit through the Arabian Sea. The carrier is expected to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln, whose deployment was extended for nearly 9 months, amid reports that its crew faced several operational challenges and supply shortages.
In earlier statements, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated that reports detailing deteriorating conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East presented a "completely distorted picture."
However, two military-focused media outlets—Navy Times and Stars and Stripes—reported that the vessel, carrying 5,000 personnel and deployed at sea since November 2025, has experienced suicide attempts and declining morale.
The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has been stationed in the Middle East since January in support of the US war on Iran.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to Panama, Hegseth said: "We make sure every ship, every crew, every captain gets everything we can possibly provide them at every moment. Some deployments run longer than others, and I hold more respect and gratitude for those sailors than anyone else. What they are doing on the high seas under those tough conditions with few port visits is incredible."
Naval deployments typically last between six and nine months, though they can be extended during times of conflict.
Speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, a US official confirmed that the USS George Washington is heading to the region to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln, adding that the move was planned in advance.
