USS Abraham Lincoln Leaves Middle East After 272 Days as George Washington Takes Over
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Aug 20
USS Abraham Lincoln Leaves Middle East After 272 Days as George Washington Takes Over
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 20
Summary
The Abraham Lincoln began a 13,000-mile, monthlong trip back to San Diego on Thursday, ending a 272-day Middle East deployment with about 5,000 sailors aboard.
That unusually long mission stretched on as the U.S. campaign against Iran outlasted initial expectations, leaving the crew without days off and families increasingly alarmed about conditions.
Supply shortages worsened after a key Navy logistics hub in Bahrain was largely destroyed, adding to complaints about deteriorating quality of life on the carrier.
The George Washington arrived this week to replace the Lincoln as the regional war settles into a stalemate, with Washington and Tehran not attacking each other or seriously negotiating.
Trump has shifted from military pressure to economic threats, saying he would penalize countries that continue doing business with Iran.