Arabic version: حاملة الطائرات يو إس إس أبراهام لينكولن تعود بعد انتشار قياسي

According to Al Jazeera, the United States aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln returned to its home port after a 322-day deployment that included a record 265 consecutive days at sea. The vessel arrived at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California, on Thursday after helping wage the US-Israel war on Iran.

Family members and friends greeted crew members as they disembarked. Abel Ramirez, a 20-year-old sailor, told The Associated Press that it “feels amazing” to be home after his parents drove from Texas to meet him. “There was a certain point when I never thought I would come off,” he said.

The Lincoln’s deployment became a focus of criticism of the US war effort, which has continued since February with no clear end in sight and has strained US military stockpiles. Reports highlighted deteriorating conditions, food shortages and a series of reported suicide attempts by crew members.

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth praised the sailors on Wednesday, accusing the media of seeking to portray the carrier as a symbol of dysfunction, low morale or a failed mission. President Donald Trump has also criticised reporting about the ship, calling it “fake news”. A Pew Research Center poll released on Thursday found that 65 percent of Americans disapproved of Trump’s handling of the war, while 33 percent approved.

Returning sailors said they were looking forward to fresh food and time with relatives. Alma Solano Velez said her husband had spoken of “the lack of food and showers” during the 10-month deployment and was eager to see their four-year-old daughter. She said he had been craving foods including oxtail, barbecue chicken, broccoli and shrimp empanadas.