U.S. Sends Abraham Lincoln Carrier Toward Middle East as Trump Delays Immediate Iran Strike

Overview

• NewsNation reported the Pentagon has begun moving the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group from the South China Sea toward the U.S. Central Command area, a transit expected to take about a week.
• There has been no U.S. carrier strike group in the Middle East or Europe since the USS Gerald R. Ford shifted to the Caribbean in October, narrowing rapid strike options.
• President Trump said he would observe Tehran’s response to the protests before deciding on broader action, while military alternatives include Tomahawk strikes, regional fighter sorties, and long-range bombers.
• The U.S. established a new coordination cell at Al Udeid Air Base to integrate allied air and missile defenses, and the embassy in Doha urged limiting nonessential travel to the base.
• Iran warned it would target U.S. forces and Israel if the U.S. intervenes, issued flight restrictions around Tehran, and aired menacing messaging on state TV.