USS Abraham Lincoln heads home after extended Middle East deployment

US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln sailed past Singapore early Sunday as it headed home after an extended deployment in the Middle East, with the warship expected to make a port visit in Thailand for rest and recovery.

Indonesia’s Batam island, across the Singapore Strait, spotted the massive carrier transiting waters near Singapore shortly after 1 am local tim, as reported by AP. The Lincoln, one of the US Navy’s largest warships, had spent months supporting American combat operations in the Middle East war against Iran.

Its deployment lasted more than 250 days, including more than 200 days without a port call; a period described as a modern-day record. However, the prolonged deployment has drawn scrutiny over conditions aboard the carrier, which has about 5,000 sailors and Marines.

Military outlets and other reports have cited declining morale, mental-health concerns, intermittent shortages of food and hygiene supplies, and problems with toilets and water systems. Local media reports have also described suicide attempts and sailors going overboard during the deployment.

Although the US Navy has disputed claims of a broader mental-health crisis, saying it had not observed an increase in suicidal thoughts or attempts aboard the ship and that medical, religious and mental-health professionals were available to the crew. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had also said reports about conditions aboard the Lincoln were “completely misrepresented”.

Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao also defended the crew’s performance earlier this month, saying the sailors had been pushed to their limits but continued to meet the demands of the mission. Cao said the Lincoln spent 266 days deployed, including 200 days in a combat zone, while its strike group conducted more than 10,000 sorties and dropped about 1.5 million pounds of ordnance.

The carrier is now returning to its US base as part of a planned rotation. Thai officials have said it will stop in Thailand before continuing its journey home.