US Jet Shoots Down Iranian Drone Near Aircraft Carrier in Arabian Sea

• A US F-35C fighter jet shot down an Iranian Shahed-139 drone in the Arabian Sea after it aggressively approached the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier.
• The incident occurred approximately 500 miles off Iran's southern coast while the USS Abraham Lincoln was transiting international waters.
• US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated the drone continued its approach despite de-escalatory measures, leading to the shootdown in self-defense.
• No US servicemembers were injured, and no American equipment was damaged during the encounter.
• Separately, Iranian IRGC boats and a Mohajer drone threatened a US-flagged commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting a US destroyer escort.

Why It Matters: A US jet downed an Iranian drone near a US aircraft carrier, highlighting escalating tensions in the Arabian Sea.