The United States military has struck a massive Iranian drone carrier during the escalating naval conflict under Operation Epic Fury. According to U.S. Central Command, the vessel — described as roughly the size of a World War II aircraft carrier — was hit by American forces and left burning at sea. The strike comes as the United States intensifies operations against Iran’s naval fleet amid the wider conflict involving Iran, the U.S., and Israel. CENTCOM officials say the campaign has already destroyed or sunk more than 30 Iranian warships.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claims its missiles struck the USS Abraham Lincoln as it sailed near the Strait of Hormuz after approaching from the Gulf of Oman. Tehran insists the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier and its escort ships were targeted roughly 340 km from Iran’s maritime borders, prompting what Iranian officials describe as a “rapid withdrawal” from the alleged strike zone. Tehran’s spokesperson even says the carrier and destroyers sped away more than 1,000 km from the scene in high‑speed maneuvers. But the U.S. military has strongly pushed back, refuting Iran’s account and stating categorically that no missiles came near the Abraham Lincoln. WATCH