Defense Secretary Hegseth boarded the USS Abraham Lincoln on Wednesday to
present the strike group with the Presidential Unit Citation after it returned
to San Diego following a deployment of more than 10 months. Pentagon data show
the strike group flew 3,693 combat sorties, expended about 1.37 million pounds
of ordnance, launched 450 Tomahawk cruise missiles, shot down 77 one‑way attack
drones, sank 64 Iranian vessels and destroyed 21 anti-ship cruise missiles. U.S.
Navy officials and earlier reports said the deployment strained personnel,
supplies and mental health; Navy officials previously said eight sailors
attempted suicide during the tour.
