USS Abraham Lincoln back in home port after troubled Persian Gulf deployment

Thousands of service members and their families gathered at the naval base on Thursday as the USS Abraham Lincoln returned to its home port after a prolonged deployment in the Gulf. The arrival was marked by emotional reunions, with many crew members stepping off the carrier after months at sea.

The carrier departed California in November, though reports differ on the exact year. One account places the departure in November 2025, while another refers to it as November of the previous year. The ship was initially slated for operations in the South China Sea before being redirected to the Middle East, where it remained on station until early September.

During its time in the Gulf, the USS Abraham Lincoln was tasked with supporting U.S. operations linked to the conflict with Iran. The carrier’s presence coincided with a series of U.S.–Israeli attacks on Iranian targets that began in late February, actions described as part of a broader campaign against Tehran.

The vessel is a nuclear‑powered aircraft carrier, one of the largest warships in the U.S. Navy, capable of launching and recovering a wide array of aircraft. Its size and capabilities have made it a central asset in U.S. power projection across multiple theaters.

The carrier’s return concludes a deployment that officials and observers characterized as troubled, with concerns raised over the welfare of the crew during the extended overseas assignment. The home‑port arrival provides an opportunity for the crew to rest and for the Navy to assess lessons learned from the operation.