The United States (US) military shot down an Iranian drone on Tuesday as it aggressively approached an American aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea, marking the latest escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran.
An F-35C stealth fighter jet from the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier shot down the Shahed-139 drone in self-defense to protect the vessel and its personnel, US Central Command (CENTCOM) spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins said.
The carrier was approximately 500 miles from the Iranian coast when the drone approached with unclear intent. The drone continued to fly toward the ship despite de-escalatory measures taken by US forces operating in international waters, according to CENTCOM.
No American service members were harmed in the incident, Hawkins said in a statement.
Second Incident in Strait of Hormuz
Hours later, forces with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) harassed a US-flagged and crewed oil tanker, Stena Imperative, moving through the Strait of Hormuz.
Two Iranian military boats and an Iranian drone approached the vessel at high speeds and threatened to board and seize the tanker, according to the US military.
The USS McCaul, a guided-missile destroyer operating in the area, responded to the scene to escort the vessel with air support from the US Air Force. The situation de-escalated and the tanker proceeded safely, Hawkins said.
“CENTCOM forces are operating at the highest levels of professionalism and ensuring the safety of US personnel, ships, and aircraft in the Middle East,” he said. “Continued Iranian harassment and threats in international waters and airspace will not be tolerated.”
The spokesman warned that Iran’s unnecessary aggression near US forces, regional partners, and commercial vessels increases risks of collision, miscalculation, and regional destabilization.
Military Buildup Near Iran
The US military has in recent days built up its presence near Iran with what President Donald Trump called a massive armada.
The USS Abraham Lincoln and three accompanying destroyers entered the Middle East area of operations earlier this week, adding approximately 5,000 American troops to the region. The naval buildup swells an already robust American military footprint that includes multiple bases across the Middle East.
Trump told reporters last month that the military was sending ships to the Middle East just in case, as his administration watches Iran’s response to massive protests that broke out late last year.
The president referenced Operation Midnight Hammer, the June 2025 US military strike on Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, when warning Iran to negotiate a nuclear deal.
“As I told Iran once before, MAKE A DEAL! They didn’t, and there was Operation Midnight Hammer, a major destruction of Iran,” Trump said. “The next attack will be far worse.”
Iran Protest Crackdown
The increased military presence comes amid international concern over Iran’s violent crackdown on nationwide protests that began on December 28, 2025.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) documented at least 6,126 deaths as of late January 2026, including at least 5,777 protesters, 214 government-affiliated forces, 86 children, and 49 civilians who were not demonstrating.
The Iranian government has put the death toll at 3,117, saying 2,427 were civilians and security forces, and labeling the rest as terrorists. However, international human rights organizations have questioned the accuracy of official figures.
The protests, which began over economic hardship, quickly evolved into broader demands for political change and an end to theocratic rule. Iranian authorities responded with live ammunition, mass arrests exceeding 41,800, and near-total internet blackouts.
Trump has warned Iran he would hit the country very hard if the repression of protesters continued, while also maintaining diplomatic channels remain open for negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program.
The White House confirmed Tuesday that CENTCOM acted appropriately and necessarily to protect US personnel and equipment in the region.
