US Moving Carrier Strike Group To Middle East Amid Tensions With Iran. What Can It Do?

Last Updated:January 16, 2026, 10:14 IST

This significant transfer of American military hardware comes amid developments related to unrest in Iran and the possibility of US action.

USS Abraham Lincoln may take up to a week to reach the Middle East. (US Navy/File)

The United States is moving a carrier strike group from the South China Sea to the US Central Command area of responsibility, which includes the Middle East, as tensions escalate between the Trump administration and Iran, according to several reports.

Moving the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East is expected to take about a week, a source told CNN. This significant transfer of American military hardware comes amid developments related to unrest in Iran and questions about whether the White House will use military force in support of protesters who challenged Iran’s clerical regime.

The US Central Command’s “area of responsibility" encompasses Northeast Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia, and includes 21 countries, such as Egypt, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan.

What Is USS Abraham Lincoln?

The USS Abraham Lincoln is a carrier strike group, which is a naval formation centred around an aircraft carrier, with a variety of other vessels, including at least one attack submarine. The strike group can bring dozens of fighter jets and Tomahawk cruise missiles to the region.

According to the US Naval Institute’s fleet tracker, the Abraham Lincoln is accompanied by three guided-missile destroyers. Along with providing air and submarine defence for the carrier, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are armed with dozens of Tomahawk cruise missiles, which can hit targets up to 1,000 miles away.

Weighing more than 100,000 tons and almost 1,100 feet long, the Abraham Lincoln can carry a mix of 90 planes and helicopters, including F/A-18 and F-35 fighter jets. The carrier functions as a mobile airfield in international waters, projecting power safely. The air wing launches fighters that can deploy standoff weapons far from the Iranian coast, ensuring the ship remains out of danger.

Tensions Over Iran

The movement of USS Abraham Lincoln comes amid rising tensions in the region over ongoing protests in Iran, fueling speculation of a possible US military intervention.

Iran on Wednesday issued a “Notice to Air Missions," or NOTAM, that flights in and out of Tehran have been restricted. All flights, except international flights, were barred from operating in the Iranian airspace.

Some personnel at a key US military base in Qatar were advised to evacuate as tensions escalated. The United Kingdom and India have advised against all but essential travel to Israel, which exchanged missile strikes with Iran last year.

US President Donald Trump has issued a series of unusually direct messages to both the Iranian leadership and protesters. Iran accused the US President of encouraging political instability, stoking violence, and undermining the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and national security.

Iranian authorities have warned that any aggression would be met with a “forceful" response, including strikes on US military installations in the region and on Israel. The US State Department issued a security alert advising additional precautions for staff or American residents in Qatar.

News world US Moving Carrier Strike Group To Middle East Amid Tensions With Iran. What Can It Do?

Read More