Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed on Sunday that it had hit the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Gulf, saying the attack was carried out in retaliation for joint American and Israeli strikes that killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.

In a statement released through local media, the force said: "The US aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln was struck by four ballistic missiles," warning that "the land and sea will increasingly become the graveyard of the terrorist aggressors". 

The United States Navy has not confirmed any assault on the carrier.

Guards claim new phase of operations

The statement, also carried by AFP, said the Guards’ operations against “American-Zionist enemy targets” had moved into a “new phase”, adding that "the powerful strikes of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran against the weary military body of the enemy have entered a new phase, and land and sea will increasingly become the graveyard of terrorist aggressors".

The claim came as Israel intensified strikes on Tehran, prompting a wave of Iranian drone and missile responses across the region.

Where the USS Abraham Lincoln is stationed

The USS Abraham Lincoln has been based in the Gulf region, with local reports noting it has spent recent weeks in the Arabian Sea. According to Fox 5 San Diego, the vessel is normally homeported at Naval Air Station North Island in California.

The carrier is part of a larger US naval build-up. In January, the ship and three guided-missile destroyers were deployed to reinforce the regional fleet. They were subsequently joined by the USS Gerald R. Ford, described as the world’s largest aircraft carrier, alongside additional destroyers repositioned from the Caribbean to the Mediterranean.

What capabilities do the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R Ford bring?

Operating together, the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R. Ford create one of the largest concentrations of naval power in history, with a combined displacement exceeding 200,000 tonnes. Together, they can deploy over 150 aircraft, including F/A-18 Super Hornets, F-35C Lightning II stealth fighters, E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes, and electronic warfare jets, providing both offensive and defensive air power that rivals the air forces of many nations. The carriers host roughly 9,000 to 10,000 crew members, supported by nuclear propulsion that allows decades-long operations without refuelling. Equipped with advanced sensors like the Ford’s Dual Band Radar and integrated air wings, these vessels, supported by guided-missile destroyers and cruisers, can project power, defend trade routes, and maintain continuous surveillance and strike capability across vast maritime regions.

Regional escalation after killing of Iran’s leader

The confrontation escalated after joint American and Israeli strikes killed Ali Khamenei, triggering retaliatory attacks across the Middle East and heightening fears of a wider conflict.

As Israel expanded its strikes on Tehran on Sunday, Iran launched missiles and drones targeting Israel, US military installations across the Gulf, and even the commercial hub of Dubai.

Unrest spread beyond Iran’s borders. In Pakistan, at least nine people were reported dead after protesters stormed the US consulate. The coordinated strikes, unfolding over the weekend, sent shockwaves through global markets and raised concerns about international energy supplies.

Announcing the initial operation, US president Donald Trump urged Iranians to “take over”, describing the moment as an opportunity for political change.

The escalation came days after renewed US-Iran nuclear discussions, as Washington pressed Tehran to curb its atomic programme amid mounting domestic unrest inside the country.