Navy reports eight suicide attempts aboard USS Abraham Lincoln strike group

Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao has confirmed that eight suicide attempts occurred among personnel assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group, according to a letter he sent to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York. The correspondence was written in response to questions from the Democratic senator regarding the wellbeing of sailors serving aboard the carrier. Cao stated that no one died in the attempts.

The letter was first reported by CNN and subsequently reviewed by major United States media outlets. The disclosure comes amid broader congressional scrutiny of conditions and mental health support for service members deployed on extended operations.

The USS Abraham Lincoln has departed the Middle East and is now returning to its home base in San Diego, California. The carrier had been deployed to the region during a period of heightened tensions involving Iran. The strike group's return marks the end of that deployment.

The confirmation of the suicide attempts adds to existing concerns about the psychological toll on naval personnel during prolonged missions. Senator Gillibrand, who has previously focused on military personnel issues, sought details on the sailors' welfare. The Navy's response, provided through the acting secretary, acknowledged the incidents without reporting any fatalities.

No further details were immediately provided about the circumstances of the attempts, the identities of those involved, or the specific timeline beyond the deployment context. The Navy has not announced any additional investigations or policy changes in connection with the letter.

According to Mehr News, the letter was first reported by CNN and reviewed by major US media outlets, and the USS Abraham Lincoln has left the Middle East and is returning to its home base in San Diego, California.