BREAKING: U.S. Shoots Down Iranian Drone After Encounter Near USS Abraham Lincoln

U.S. forces shot down an Iranian drone Tuesday after what officials described as an aggressive approach toward an American aircraft carrier.

The incident occurred in the Arabian Sea as the USS Abraham Lincoln transited international waters.

BREAKING: The U.S. military says it shot down an Iranian drone that approached an aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea with “unclear intent.” https://t.co/Lx2YFYXpR6

— The Associated Press (@AP) February 3, 2026

According to a report from CNN, the unmanned aircraft was intercepted hours before another encounter with two Iranian gunboats.

A U.S. military spokesman said the drone ignored efforts by American forces to de-escalate.

Capt. Tim Hawkins, a U.S. Central Command spokesman, said, “The Iranian drone continued to fly toward the ship despite de-escalatory measures taken by