USS Abraham Lincoln's supply issues stem from Iran's Bahrain naval base attacks - report

The New York Times reports that supply problems on the USS Abraham Lincoln stem from Iranian drone and missile attacks on a Bahrain naval base early in the US-Iran war, forcing the Navy to shift supply operations to Diego Garcia, over 3,500 km away. Senator Richard Blumenthal demands an inquiry into shortages, water contamination, and crew mental health issues, while CENTCOM denies reports of crew members attempting to jump off the ship.

The New York Times reported on Friday that the supply issues plaguing the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier stem from Iranian drone and missile attacks on a naval base in Bahrain early in the US-Iran war. The US Navy initially used the Bahrain base for supply operations but was forced to change strategies after the attacks, moving supply operations to the UK naval base on Diego Garcia, which sits over 3,500 km from the two US carrier strike groups in the Gulf of Oman. The NYT attributed this base change to a direct impact on the supply problems currently facing the USS Abraham Lincoln, which, according to US Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut), include shortages, water contamination, and several other issues that have arisen over the past months. Blumenthal, a US Marine Corps Reserve veteran, sent a letter to Acting US Navy Secretary Hung Cao and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday demanding a formal inquiry into the conditions aboard the ship. Further concerns regard the crew amid reports that several have attempted to jump off the aircraft carrier, facing deteriorating mental health, as well as hygiene and safety issues, claims that US Central Command (CENTCOM) denied in an X/Twitter post on Thursday. US President Donald Trump dismissed the concerns later on Friday, and the NYT quoted him as saying the ship's deployment length is 'not nearly long enough.'