On Feb. 3, 2026, U.S. military forces intercepted and shot down an Iranian Shahed-139 drone that was flying toward the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed.

According to U.S. officials, the drone “aggressively approached” the carrier with what they described as “unclear intent,” ignoring repeated de-escalation efforts by U.S. forces. In response, a U.S. Navy F-35C fighter jet launched from the Lincoln and destroyed the unmanned aerial vehicle.

The U.S. military emphasized that the action was taken in self-defense to protect the aircraft carrier and its crew. No U.S. service members were injured and no equipment was damaged in the incident.

The carrier, part of a larger naval strike group deployed in the region amid escalating tensions with Tehran, was operating in international waters approximately 500 miles (800 km) from Iran’s southern coast when the encounter unfolded.

The Shahed-139 model is a long-range Iranian unmanned aerial vehicle capable of surveillance and, in some variants, carrying payloads. Iranian state-linked media reported loss of contact with one of its drones in international airspace, though Tehran did not confirm whether it was intentionally approaching the carrier or its intended mission.

The shootdown occurred amid wider tensions in the region, as U.S. officials reported that, in a separate incident the same day, Iranian Revolutionary Guard boats and another drone harassed the U.S.-flagged merchant vessel Stena Imperative in the Strait of Hormuz. A U.S. destroyer, the USS McFaul, intervened to escort the tanker safely through the contentious shipping lane.

While diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran — including potential talks aimed at addressing nuclear issues — remain on the agenda, this type of military confrontation highlights the persistent risk of miscalculation. U.S. warships continue to patrol strategically vital waters as both sides navigate a complex balance of deterrence and diplomacy.

Sources: France 24, Al Jazeera, AP News, Reuters, The National