US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Thursday rejected reports about conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln during its deployment to the Middle East, denying claims that sailors had died in a fight or that the aircraft carrier had experienced an increase in suicidal ideation. “CLAIM: Over the past 48 hours, multiple media outlets have reported several false claims related to the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) to the Middle East,” CENTCOM said in a statement. “One report alleges that seven sailors died in a fight aboard the aircraft carrier and others have recently suggested an increase in suicidal ideation.” “These reports are FALSE,” CENTCOM said. The command noted the carrier’s crew reenlistment rate, saying USS Abraham Lincoln has “maintained one of the highest crew reenlistment rates (84.4%) of all U.S. Navy aircraft carriers.” “The sailors and Marines of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group remain resilient and determined after more than 260 days at sea, 10,000 aircraft flights and 1.5 million pounds of ammunition expended,” CENTCOM said. “No service members aboard the aircraft carrier have died, and the sailor who fell overboard on August 3 was quickly and safely recovered,” the statement continued. “Rampant misinformation about Abraham Lincoln’s historic deployment is a disservice to our men and women in uniform and their loved ones.” Secretary of War Pete Hegseth also addressed reports about conditions aboard the aircraft carrier on Thursday, saying they had been “completely misrepresented.” “We make sure that every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can give them at every moment,” Hegseth told reporters during a visit to Panama. “Some deployments are longer than others, and I have more respect and gratitude for those sailors than anyone. What they do on the high seas, in those austere conditions and with fewer port calls, is incredible.” Yesterday’s Fox News Digital live blog offers additional coverage of the conflict with Iran.
