USS Abraham Lincoln: Seven dead in violent crew clash

Seven US Navy personnel were reportedly killed and several others wounded during a violent clash aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Indian Ocean. The incident reportedly escalated after an adviser to US Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Brad Cooper boarded the aircraft carrier to address crew grievances. The adviser was met with boos and thrown water bottles, leading to a confrontation among crew members involving knives and other bladed weapons.

The violence follows mounting unrest regarding the ship’s prolonged deployment, which has lasted 263 days. The carrier has spent 208 consecutive days at sea, marking one of the longest continuous deployments for a US carrier in the modern era.

Reports indicate deteriorating living conditions for the approximately 5,000 sailors and Marines on board. Crew members have protested inadequate food supplies, non-functional laundry facilities, and mold in shower areas that has caused fungal infections. Families of the personnel have also expressed concerns regarding exhaustion and mental health due to the extended operational tempo.