USS Abraham Lincoln Returns Home After Record‑Breaking Deployment Against Iran

Crew members expressed relief upon returning from a record‑breaking 265‑day deployment that strained aboard conditions.

Published On 9 Oct 20269 Oct 2026

The United States aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has returned to its home port after a 322‑day deployment, including a record 265 consecutive days at sea, during which it supported the US‑Israel war on Iran.

The vessel arrived at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California, on Thursday, where members of its crew were met by family and friends.

“It feels amazing,” 20‑year‑old Abel Ramirez told The Associated Press, noting that his parents drove from Texas to meet him. “At some point I never assumed I would go back.”

The unprecedented deployment has become a focal point for growing criticism of the US war effort, which has continued since February without a clear endpoint and placed additional pressure on U.S. military stockpiles.

Deteriorating conditions, food shortages and reports of personal distress among the crew sparked a surge of investigative reporting onboard life aboard the ship.

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth praised the sailors on Wednesday, asserting that the media sought to portray the vessel as evidence of dysfunction, low morale or a flawed mission.

President Donald Trump and several members of his administration have repeatedly attacked critical journalism, labeling coverage of the USS Lincoln as “fake news.” At an Oval Office session on August 17, Trump asserted that the ship’s duration was extensive and that the crew deserved appreciation for its upkeep.

Public sentiment remains divided, with a Pew Research Center poll finding that 65 percent of Americans oppose Trump’s conduct in the war, compared with 33 percent who support the president’s approach.

The conflict has also heightened economic anxieties; Iran’s actions have obstructed commercial passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital choke point for global fuel and industrial supplies.

Sailors preparing for repatriation expressed eagerness to enjoy fresh meals and reunite with loved ones. Alma Solano Velez recalled how her husband listed cravings—such as oxtail, barbecued chicken, broccoli and shrimp empanadas—over the ten‑month cruise, adding that he highlighted the lack of food and showers and anticipated seeing their four‑year‑old daughter soon.

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