An informed source said on Aug. 20 the nuclear-powered US carrier Abraham Lincoln has begun returning. The USS George Washington has already arrived in the Middle East to relieve Lincoln’s extended deployment. A US official said Lincoln remains in the US Navy Fifth Fleet operating area and has not yet left the CENTCOM area of responsibility. Lincoln was sent to the Middle East in January for operations against Iran and maritime interdiction and has been deployed for more than 250 days; recent re

An informed source said on Aug. 20 the nuclear-powered US carrier Abraham Lincoln has begun returning. The USS George Washington has already arrived in the Middle East to relieve Lincoln’s extended deployment. A US official said Lincoln remains in the US Navy Fifth Fleet operating area and has not yet left the CENTCOM area of responsibility. Lincoln was sent to the Middle East in January for operations against Iran and maritime interdiction and has been deployed for more than 250 days; recent reports cite crew living-condition and mental-health strains from the high operational tempo and prolonged deployment.