U.S. Media Reports: The Deployment Duration of the U.S. Aircraft Carrier "Lincoln" in the Middle East Breaks Records, Multiple Sailors Attempt to Jump Overboard to Commit Suicide

[Global Network Report] According to reports from U.S. media such as the "Stars and Stripes" and "Navy Times" on August 12 local time, due to the tense situation in Iran, the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier has been deployed in the Middle East for an extended period and has not docked for about 250 days—setting a modern aircraft carrier record. The harsh conditions on board and the psychological pressure on the sailors have reached a critical point, with several sailors attempting to jump overboard to commit suicide.

It was reported that at a town hall meeting held last week in San Diego, emotional family members of U.S. military personnel expressed their concerns about their loved ones on the Lincoln to Navy leadership. One soldier's spouse stated that her husband texted her that day, saying, "He hopes he doesn't wake up tomorrow"; another woman at the meeting said that the U.S. Navy has destroyed the trust between the soldiers' families and the leadership.

The "Navy Times" detailed several thwarted suicide attempts during the deployment of the Lincoln. Family member Annabelle Loma revealed to the media that her husband, whose time at sea has been repeatedly extended, had attempted to jump overboard to commit suicide. Another sailor's spouse stated that her husband had grabbed a crew member who was attempting to jump overboard and pulled him back onto the deck, preventing the suicide.

The British "Guardian" noted that U.S. Democratic Congressman Mike Levin disclosed the conditions of the crew on the Lincoln on the 11th: the ship's "showers are moldy, toilets are broken, laundry facilities have been out of service for weeks, there has been no hot water for a long time, and there is a food shortage. There is no soap, deodorant, or toothpaste." Democratic Congressman Jason Crow warned that the pressure on the officers and crew aboard the Lincoln and their families is "increasing day by day."

The "Guardian" mentioned that the poor conditions on the Lincoln had been exposed before, but U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin dismissed these claims, calling them "fake news." In response, Levin stated: "These American servicemen are serving the country. The country should at least provide them with hot water, usable toilets, and decent food. If Austin can't even do that, he has no right to look their families in the eye and accuse them of lying."

The "Guardian" stated that it contacted the U.S. Navy for comments regarding reports of crew members attempting to jump overboard. A U.S. Navy official responded that they are well aware that "long deployments place tremendous pressure on service members and their families." The official added, "Based on the information available to the command, we have not found an increase in reported suicidal thoughts or attempts on board."

According to the "Stars and Stripes," the USS Lincoln was deployed to the Pacific for a mission last November and was later reassigned to the Middle East. As of now, its deployment time has exceeded eight months, setting a record for continuous deployment at sea (without docking at any ports during this period). During the deployment, the ship has spent most of its time supporting U.S. military operations against Iran; this deployment was originally scheduled to end in May but has now been extended, with no announced return date.