Diyar Guldogan
03 February 2026•Update: 04 February 2026
WASHINGTON
A US fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone in the Arabian Sea on Tuesday after it approached an American aircraft carrier, an official said.
"USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) was transiting the Arabian Sea approximately 500 miles from Iran’s southern coast when an Iranian Shahed-139 drone unnecessarily maneuvered toward the ship.
"The Iranian drone continued to fly toward the ship despite de-escalatory measures taken by US forces operating in international waters,” US Central Command (CENTCOM) spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins said.
Hawkins said forces are ensuring the safety of US personnel, ships and aircraft in the Middle East.
"Continued Iranian harassment and threats in international waters and airspace will not be tolerated. Iran’s unnecessary aggression near US forces, regional partners and commercial vessels increases risks of collision, miscalculation, and regional destabilization," he added.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that she talked to the Pentagon, which said CENTCOM acted "appropriately and necessarily" to protect the US personnel and equipment in the region.
"So, CENTCOM did make the decision to shoot down that Iranian drone. It was unmanned; it was acting aggressively towards our USS Lincoln, which we know that aircraft carrier is in the region -- at the direction of President Trump," Leavitt said.
Leavitt said US President Donald Trump remains committed to "always" pursuing diplomacy.
"But in order for diplomacy to work, of course, it takes two to tango. You need a willing partner to engage," she added.
Special envoy Steve Witkoff is set to have conversations with the Iranians later this week, Leavitt said.
"Those are still scheduled as of right now, but of course, the president has always a range of options on the table, and that includes the use of military force, the Iranians know that better than anyone," she added.
