- A U.S. F-35C fighter jet shot down an Iranian Shahed-139 drone near the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea on February 3, 2026.
- U.S. Central Command confirmed the drone was aggressively approaching the aircraft carrier and was destroyed in self-defense.
- This incident followed an earlier attempt by Iranian fast attack craft to seize a U.S.-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz.
- These events mark a significant escalation of U.S.-Iran tensions in the Persian Gulf amid ongoing diplomatic efforts.
- Analysts suggest these actions represent Iranian probing operations to test U.S. naval reactions and demonstrate regional capabilities.
F-35C Downs Iranian Drone Near Carrier
A U.S. F-35C fighter jet dramatically shot down an Iranian Shahed-139 drone aggressively approaching the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea on February 3, 2026. This incident, confirmed as self-defense by U.S. Central Command, marks a significant escalation of U.S.-Iran tensions following an earlier Iranian attempt to seize a U.S.-flagged tanker.
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