USS Lincoln back in home port after troubled Gulf deployment

The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier has returned to its home port in San Diego, California, after an extended deployment in the Gulf supporting President Donald Trump's war against Iran. The crew had been at sea since November 2025, initially in the South China Sea before being rerouted to the Middle East following US-Israeli attacks on Iran in late February.

The lengthy mission took a toll on the approximately 5,000 military personnel aboard the carrier and accompanying warships. In August, concerns were raised about suicide attempts and food shortages among the crew. The Trump administration confirmed eight suicide attempts during the deployment, though none resulted in fatalities. The letter from Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao acknowledged limited resupply options due to combat conditions, reducing main entree options from two to one for a short period.

Families of the servicemen and women lined the quayside in San Diego to welcome their loved ones back. Alba Solano, whose partner was deployed, expressed nervousness and excitement about finally seeing him after nearly a year. She recounted communication challenges, including glitchy video calls and poor phone connectivity. Another Army veteran, Patricia Harmon, said life aboard the ship must have been difficult due to the lack of outlets and reduced food options, but she was looking forward to seeing her son and his excitement about returning home.

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had previously boarded the ship to congratulate the crew on their mission, highlighting their record-breaking performance with ten thousand sorties, 23,000 combat flight hours, and almost 4,000 combat sorties.