Hegseth Praises USS Abraham Lincoln Crew After Record Iran War Deployment

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln on Wednesday as the aircraft carrier completed an extended wartime deployment marked by intense combat operations and concerns over crew mental health.

Hegseth visited the carrier’s flight deck ahead of its scheduled Thursday arrival in San Diego. The Lincoln strike group recorded eight suicide attempts among US sailors during the deployment, according to the Navy. The carrier also spent 264 consecutive days without a port call, a Pentagon record.

Addressing the crew, Hegseth emphasized their resilience and presented a citation from President Donald Trump recognizing their service during the US-Iran war.

According to Hegseth, the Lincoln strike group sank 64 Iranian warships, destroyed 21 anti-ship cruise missiles and conducted 3,693 combat sorties. US forces also launched 450 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles and fired 1.37 million pounds of ordnance against Iranian targets.

Despite the pace of operations, Hegseth said the carrier suffered no casualties or aircraft mishaps.

"What makes the US military and the US Navy and all these sailors different is that you adapt and that you’re resilient and you overcome," Hegseth told sailors.

Naval deployments generally last between six and nine months but can be extended during conflicts. Hegseth acknowledged difficult conditions aboard the Lincoln, including resupply challenges, and said the crew deserved to return home to their families.

The carrier’s return comes at a critical stage in the seven-month US-Iran war. The conflict, estimated to cost roughly $3 billion per month, has disrupted global energy markets and become a major political issue ahead of November’s US midterm elections.

Trump is considering whether to intensify military action against Iran while maintaining a naval blockade designed to increase economic pressure on Tehran.

Vice President JD Vance said Monday that Iran must make a "meaningful" reduction in its uranium enrichment capacity to meet US demands and bring the conflict to an end.

Hegseth told the Lincoln crew their operations had contributed to Washington’s goal of preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, telling sailors: "You have changed the arc of history."