USS George Washington Relieves USS Lincoln in Middle East

The USS George Washington aircraft carrier has arrived in the Middle East to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been on a record-setting deployment of more than 250 days amid concerns over crew welfare and supplies. U.S. Central Command confirmed the George Washington carrier strike group entered the command's theater on August 19 and is now operating in the Arabian Sea.

The arrival marks the beginning of the Washington's mission as the frontline carrier for ongoing operations in the region, which include maintaining a naval presence near Iran. The Lincoln, which has been at sea for over eight months without a significant port call, is expected to return to its home port, though no specific timeline has been announced. The extended deployment has drawn scrutiny after reports emerged of food shortages, mental health challenges, and low morale among the 5,000 sailors aboard.

Families of Lincoln crew members have raised alarms, with one sailor's wife describing a decline in her husband's outlook and photographs of sparse meals. "You can just tell the little things. He's just exhausted," she said. Military newspapers have published accounts from families citing disrupted...