Fact Check: Is the video showing USS Abraham Lincoln on fire after Iranian attack real?
TEHRAN, IRAN: Amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East that killed Ayatollah Khamenei and severely injured Mojtaba Khamenei, a video has been circulating on social media platforms claiming to show plumes of smoke coming out of the United States’ aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, after being attacked by Iran. Let us fact-check the claim.
Claim: USS Abraham Lincoln caught fire after an Iranian attack
Following Iran’s retaliatory strikes on the American bases in the Gulf and against its allies, following the death of its Supreme Leader in a joint operation by the US and Israel, Iran has made several claims about attacking the USS Abraham Lincoln.
A video has gone viral recently showing a ship on fire and plumes of smoke coming out of it, while a helicopter tries to shut the fire down by pouring water.
The video surfaced on X, and versions of the claim are making rounds on other platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, garnering hundreds of thousands of views.
Fact Check: False, video unrelated to the ongoing conflict
Although Iran claimed to have hit the ship earlier this month in the Persian Gulf, it was debunked by the US Central Command (CENTCOM), labelling it a lie.
A reverse image search for the key frames of the video reveals that the incident in the video is the burning of USS Bonhomme Richard in 2020 and is unrelated to the recent conflict. There are also no recent reports about the ship being attacked, hence the claim is false.
A fact check by Grok confirmed that “The 'leaked clip' of a burning USS Abraham Lincoln (with the helicopter) is fake—circulating since Iran's unproven March 1 missile/drone strike claims. US Pentagon & CENTCOM confirm: carrier unhit, still operational, launching jets. No real damage footage exists.”
CENTCOM says USS Abraham Lincoln is fully operational
According to CENTCOM, the USS Abraham Lincoln is fully operational.
The military command shared footage of the carrier continuing to launch aircraft in support of what it described as a 'relentless campaign' to eliminate threats from the Iranian regime.
The mission, aimed at defending the American people, remained the priority for the carrier strike group currently deployed in the region.
US officials continue to monitor the "largest warship in the world" as it navigates these contested waters. The potential for further missile exchanges remains high as both sides weigh the consequences of this reported engagement.
