As US President Donald Trump seeks a “decisive” military option against Iran, latest reports hint the aircraft carrier, USS Abraham Lincoln, has crossed the Strait of Malacca and made its way west into the Bay of Bengal. However, the carrier has reportedly turned off its transponder and is now travelling “dark”, according to the latest information from MarineTraffic.com.
US aircraft carrier heads to Middle East amid Iran turmoil
— MarineTraffic (@MarineTraffic) January 19, 2026
The US Navy’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its associated carrier strike group have been redirected from the South China Sea toward the Middle East amid mounting unrest and geopolitical… pic.twitter.com/MvBAnedAH2
Earlier reports also suggested that the US was deploying F-15E Strike Eagles, accompanied by KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling jets, from RAF Lakenheath in the UK. These F-15Es are a staple in the Middle East and were instrumental in defending against the cruise missiles shot by Iran at Israel. Therefore, it is expected that the US will deploy them again during the current unrest. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) also confirmed that a US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle assigned to the 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron has landed at a base in the Middle East. “The F-15's presence enhances combat readiness and promotes regional security and stability,” CENTCOM added.
🇺🇸 Twelve F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets of the 48th Fighter Wing of the US Air Force took off this morning from RAF Lakenheath airbase in England and headed towards Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan; one of them landed at Chania International Airport on the Greek island of… pic.twitter.com/rOa0RNmwrh
— Visioner (@visionergeo) January 18, 2026
With this, the US now has three Strike Eagle squadrons in the region, according to open-source flight tracking data and recent official U.S. military imagery. Besides this, the USS Abraham Lincoln is bringing with it F-35C aircraft from the Marine Corps Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, Navy F-18 Super Hornets fighters, and a squadron of EA-18 Growler electronic attack aircraft, which can jam and strike air defenses.
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The current increase in the number of C-17 Globemaster III cargo jets heading toward the region also hints at an impending military action, as a strike would likely require an influx of air defense systems, material, and troops, requiring the use of transports.
Interestingly, CENTCOM also posted an image of an Electronic Advanced Ground Launcher System. It is also suspected that the US Air Force flew M1 Abrams tanks and M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles to the region, but it is unclear if that is related to any operations involving Iran.
