The US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln is in the final stages of its journey back to San Diego and is expected to arrive in the coming days. The ship's deployment, which began last November, was initially anticipated to be a routine several months in the Pacific region with a return in the spring.
However, the carrier was redirected to the Middle East following the launch of the war between the US and Israel against Iran. This led to an extended period at sea, with the Lincoln spending over 250 consecutive days deployed by August.
The deployment involved combat operations, with the Lincoln and its strike group engaging in what Adm Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, described as "arguably the most intense combat at sea the navy has seen" since the second world war. The group reportedly shot down more than 200 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps drones and carried out hundreds of "decisive strikes on IRGC targets."
The extended deployment and combat conditions led to reports of challenges for the crew, including shortages of food and basic supplies, and concerns about mental health. In late September, the navy disclosed that eight service members from the Lincoln and its accompanying strike group had attempted to take their own lives during the deployment.