A. Rahman
American forces took decisive action on February 3, 2026, when an F-35C fighter jet from the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier shot down an Iranian Shahed-139 drone that was approaching aggressively in the Arabian Sea. Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for U.S. Central Command, described the move as necessary for self-defense to safeguard the carrier and its crew, noting the drone’s unclear but threatening intent. No U.S. personnel were injured, and no equipment sustained damage in the encounter.
Hours later that same day, tensions persisted in the Strait of Hormuz, where two boats from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, along with a Mohajer drone, sped toward a U.S.-flagged and crewed merchant tanker called M/V Stena Imperative, appearing ready to board and seize it. Hawkins reported that the situation calmed down, allowing the tanker to continue its journey safely under escort from the U.S. Navy warship McFaul.
These events unfolded against a backdrop of diplomatic efforts to set up nuclear discussions between Washington and Tehran. Iran’s mission to the United Nations chose not to respond to questions about the drone shootdown. President Donald Trump has issued warnings about potential negative outcomes with American warships in the region if no agreement is reached, while noting that Iran appears open to serious talks. A key Iranian security figure, Ali Larijani, indicated that preparations for negotiations are progressing.
The incidents follow a recent harsh response to protests in Iran, marking the most severe internal unrest since the 1979 revolution, prompting a visible U.S. military presence in the area, including the Lincoln carrier strike group. Markets reacted quickly, with oil futures climbing over a dollar per barrel after word of the drone being downed spread.
Quick Summary:
On February 3, 2026, a U.S. F-35C jet downed an approaching Iranian Shahed-139 drone near the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea for protection, with no harm reported. Later, IRGC forces briefly threatened a U.S. tanker in the Strait of Hormuz before backing off. The clashes occur as nuclear talks are being arranged, amid U.S. military buildup and rising oil prices.
