US Fighter Jet Downs Iranian Drone Near Aircraft Carrier in North Arabian Sea

A U.S. combat aircraft shot down an Iranian unmanned aerial vehicle on Tuesday after the drone closed in on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln while the ship was operating in the North Arabian Sea, according to U.S. Central Command. The incident occurred the same day a Navy destroyer intervened to assist a U.S.–flagged commercial tanker that had been approached aggressively by several Iranian small boats during the tanker’s transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

Central Command reported that the fighter jet engaged the drone when it continued to approach the carrier despite multiple warnings. The Pentagon has not disclosed the model of the American aircraft or the specific type of Iranian drone that was destroyed. No injuries or damage to U.S. naval assets were reported.

The shoot-down took place amid routine operations for the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group in international waters. Military officials said the carrier was conducting flight operations when the unmanned system entered what commanders deemed a threatening range. Standard escalation procedures were initiated, including radio calls and visual signals. When the drone failed to alter its course, the fighter pilot was authorized to employ live ordnance, bringing the aircraft down.

Earlier on Tuesday, a separate maritime encounter unfolded at the entrance to the Persian Gulf. A U.S.–flagged oil tanker was navigating the Strait of Hormuz when multiple Iranian fast-attack craft maneuvered dangerously close, according to Central Command. The small boats reportedly harassed the commercial ship, prompting distress calls that were answered by a nearby U.S. Navy destroyer assigned to the same carrier strike group.

Upon arrival, the destroyer positioned itself between the tanker and the Iranian vessels. After issuing verbal warnings over bridge-to-bridge radio and deploying non-lethal deterrent measures, the Iranian boats broke off contact. No shots were fired during that portion of the day’s events, and the tanker completed its passage without further incident.

A spokesperson for Central Command said both episodes highlight the importance of maintaining a robust maritime security presence in and around key shipping lanes. The official added that U.S. forces operate in accordance with international law and will act to protect themselves and commercial traffic from hostile or unsafe actions. Iran has not yet released a public statement regarding either encounter.

The North Arabian Sea and the Strait of Hormuz remain high-traffic corridors for military and commercial vessels. While the U.S. Navy frequently reports close interactions with Iranian forces in these waters, the destruction of an Iranian drone by an American fighter jet is a comparatively rare event. Pentagon officials described Tuesday’s response as a calibrated defensive measure rather than an escalation.

Imagem: Finances

Central Command did not indicate whether the downed drone had been armed. However, senior officers stressed that unmanned platforms capable of surveillance can pose a threat by collecting sensitive information on carrier flight patterns and ship formations. The decision to engage, they said, reflected a determination that the drone’s proximity created an unacceptable risk to the carrier strike group’s operations.

Both the incident involving the drone and the earlier harassment of the tanker are under formal review. Findings will be forwarded to Navy leadership and to the Department of Defense. Although the United States regularly documents unsafe maritime behavior by Iranian forces, officials declined to speculate on whether Tuesday’s actions were coordinated.

More information, including any potential diplomatic response, is expected once Centcom completes its preliminary assessment. Updates will be provided through official Defense Department channels and on the U.S. Central Command website, which carries real-time statements on regional security operations.

As of Tuesday evening, the USS Abraham Lincoln remained on station in the North Arabian Sea, and the accompanying destroyer had resumed its escort duties. Commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz continued uninterrupted. Naval commanders emphasized that coalition maritime security patrols will persist, aimed at ensuring freedom of navigation for all vessels transiting the area.

Crédito da imagem: U.S. Navy