USS Lincoln returns to US after long deployment supporting war on Iran

What the report says

The USS Abraham Lincoln has returned to its home port in San Diego, California, after a 322-day deployment that included a record 265 consecutive days at sea, according to Al Jazeera, Reuters and The Associated Press. The aircraft carrier arrived at Naval Air Station North Island on Thursday, where sailors were reunited with family members after what crew members described as a difficult stretch aboard ship.

Al Jazeera reported that the Lincoln’s deployment became closely associated with the U.S.-Israel war on Iran and drew attention because of concerns about conditions on board. The article said reporting over the past months focused on strain among the crew, including food shortages, limited showers and reported suicide attempts. Sailors quoted in the story said they were relieved to be home and eager for fresh meals and time with their families.

The return also follows political backlash over coverage of the ship’s condition. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump criticized media reports that portrayed the vessel as a sign of poor morale or dysfunction. Trump has separately dismissed unfavorable coverage of the war as “fake news,” while the broader conflict has continued without a clear end, according to the article.

The report said the deployment matters beyond one ship because it reflects pressure on U.S. military resources and public concern over the war’s cost and direction. It also noted a recent Pew Research Center poll showing low approval for Trump’s handling of the war, though the broader strategic and humanitarian impact of the conflict remains a wider regional issue.