The US Central Command on Sunday rejected Iran's Revolutionary Guard's claim that its aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln by Iranian ballistic missiles. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the US Central Command called the claims a lie and said the Lincoln was not hit.
"The missiles launched didn’t even come close. The Lincoln continues to launch aircraft in support of CENTCOM’s relentless campaign to defend the American people by eliminating threats from the Iranian regime," it said.
Earlier, Iran claimed it launched around four ballistic missiles towards the aircraft carrier that was deployed by the US Navy, as tensions escalated in the region. In a statement, Iran's Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) said that by launching the four ballistic missiles, its battle against the "American-Zionist enemy" has entered a new phase, claimed Iranian media.
"The powerful strikes of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran against the weary military body of the enemy have entered a new phase, and land and sea will increasingly become the graveyard of terrorist aggressors," the IRGC statement read.
Iran's warning and Israel's counter-warning
Iran has warned that it would continue its military operation in the region against US bases. It has also struck Israel, and killed at least 10 people following its strike in Beit Shemesh.
Iran has said it wants peace in the region, and thereby, it is only targeting US bases in the region. This includes bases in Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain. Iran has also targeted the United Arab Emirates (UAE), leaving at least three people dead and injuring more than 50 others. In Dubai, the international airport has remained shut since Saturday, while iconic Burj Khalifa was also evacuated amid fears of Iranian strikes.
Israel has now warned of more strikes against Iran. On Sunday, it launched multiple attacks on Iran's Basij forces headquarters and the Tabriz airport, destroying at least two fighter jets - F-5 and F-4 - of the Iranian Air Force. Iran has said it would continue striking the Iranian regime, which it said is responsible for the killing of thousands of people in the region.
US President Donald Trump has also warned Iran against an escalation. Meanwhile, the United Nations (UN) has held an emergency meeting and called for a de-escalation.
