A U.S. F-35 fighter jet shot down an Iranian Shahed-139 drone that “aggressively approached” the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea, approximately 500 miles from Iran’s southern coast on Tuesday.
U.S. Central Command spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins said an F-35 warplane from the Abraham Lincoln shot down the drone “in self defense to protect the aircraft carrier and personnel on board.”
He added that the jet engaged after the drone “continued to fly toward the ship despite de-escalatory measures taken by U.S. forces.” Hawkins said no U.S. personnel were injured and no equipment was damaged in the incident.
The Lincoln carrier strike group is the most visible part of a U.S. military buildup in the Middle East following last month’s deadly anti-government protests. President Donald Trump, who stopped short of intervening during the crackdown, recently warned Iran of potential strikes if it does not negotiate a nuclear deal.
Trump said last week Iran was “seriously talking,” while Tehran’s top security official, Ali Larijani, said arrangements for negotiations were under way.
“As for the president, he remains committed to always pursuing diplomacy first,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Tuesday. “But in order for diplomacy to work of course it takes two to tango. You need a willing partner to engage.”
.@PressSec: “CENTCOM did make the decision to shoot down that Iranian drone. It was unmanned, it was acting aggressively towards our USS Lincoln…As for @POTUS, he remains committed to always pursuing diplomacy first—but in order for diplomacy to work, of course, it takes two to… pic.twitter.com/wBwyl4MfFT
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 3, 2026
Leavitt added that Trump “always has a range of options on the table and that includes the use of military force.”
The Iranian government reported 3,117 deaths in nationwide protests but denied United Nations and human rights claims that state forces were responsible. U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency has verified 6,872 deaths, 50,553 arrests, and 11,021 injuries as of Tuesday.
Day 38 of Iran’s protests: the confirmed death toll stands at 6,872, with 50,553 arrests, and 11,021 injured. Key developments included student rallies, intensified judicial crackdowns, and ongoing internet disruptions.
See details in HRANA’s report:https://t.co/ve37VWv5nl pic.twitter.com/TO0JIphxa4— HRANA English (@HRANA_English) February 3, 2026
