U.s. Military Shoots Down Iranian Drone That Approached Aircraft Carrier

American forces changeable down an Iranian drone Tuesday arsenic it “aggressively” approached nan USS Abraham Lincoln craft bearer successful nan Arabian Sea and appeared to person “unclear intent,” according to U.S. Central Command spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins.

“USS Abraham Lincoln was transiting nan Arabian Sea astir 500 miles from Iran’s confederate seashore erstwhile an Iranian Shahed-139 drone unnecessarily maneuvered toward nan ship,” Hawkins said successful a statement. “The Iranian drone continued to alert toward nan vessel contempt de-escalatory measures taken by U.S. forces operating successful world waters.”

The drone was changeable down by an F-35C combatant pitchy from nan craft bearer and nary American work members were injured and nary U.S. instrumentality was damaged, according to nan statement.

The incident comes aft tensions person spiked betwixt nan U.S. and Iran arsenic President Donald Trump is considering subject strikes against nan Islamic Republic.

Top American and Iranian officials are expected to hold talks connected Friday successful Turkey, 4 elder Middle East diplomats and a U.S. charismatic told NBC News. White House typical envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi would beryllium portion of nan delegations, according to 4 of nan sources.

The drone was carrying retired a “routine and lawful ngo successful world waters, engaged successful reconnaissance, monitoring, and imaging, which is considered a normal and ineligible activity,” nan Tasnim news agency, which is affiliated pinch nan Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said successful a report, citing an “informed source.”

“This drone successfully transmitted its surveillance and reconnaissance images to headquarters, but subsequently mislaid communication. The logic for this nonaccomplishment of interaction is presently nether review,” nan study said.

In a abstracted incident immoderate hours later successful nan Strait of Hormuz, nan IRGC harassed a U.S.-flagged, U.S.-crewed merchant alloy that U.S. Central Command said was lawfully transiting nan world oversea passage.

Two IRGC boats and an Iranian Mohajer drone approached nan tanker, nan M/V Stena Imperative, astatine precocious velocity and threatened to committee and prehend nan tanker, according to nan U.S. military.

The guided rocket destroyer USS McFaul was operating successful nan area and responded to nan segment to escort nan tanker pinch protect aerial support from nan U.S. Air Force, according to U.S. Central Command. “The business de-escalated arsenic a result, and nan U.S.-flagged tanker is proceeding safely,” Hawkins’ connection said.

It is unclear whether Trump will determine to usage force. He said “we’ll find out” erstwhile he was asked Sunday whether Iran’s ultimate leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was correct to foretell that a U.S. onslaught connected nan state would spark a location war.

Asked astir nan remarks by a reporter, Trump said he was hopeful that a woody could beryllium struck, while cautioning that nan U.S. has “the biggest, astir powerful ships successful nan world complete there.”

The USS Abraham Lincoln arrived successful nan region from nan South China Sea conscionable days ago. “Continued Iranian harassment and threats successful world waters and airspace will not beryllium tolerated,” nan U.S. Central Command connection said.