Brad Cooper, the U.S. Central Command chief overseeing military operations against Iran, visited the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, which has been deployed for an extended period in Middle Eastern waters.
With poor service conditions from the long deployment and even reports of crew members attempting to jump overboard, the visit is seen as an effort to encourage the crew and prevent unrest within the ranks.
According to U.S. media on the 16th, Cooper boarded the Lincoln the previous day, about nine months into its deployment to the Middle East.
In a separate statement, Cooper praised the Lincoln's crew as a "powerful team" and called this deployment one of the most intense and important missions in modern U.S. military history. He also said long sea duty is not easy and emphasized that, in addition to physical health, mental and spiritual health are important.
Cooper specifically noted that among the U.S. Navy's 11 carriers, the Lincoln has one of the lowest rates of mental health cases. The remark is seen as a message to soothe a crew worn down by the long deployment and to dispel concerns about mental health issues.
Carrying about 5,000 crew members, the Lincoln was originally expected to finish its mission in May, but its deployment was extended as the Iran war continued. U.S. media recently reported poor living conditions, including mold in showers and spoiled food. There were also reports that some crew members tried to jump off the carrier.
The Democratic Party launched an investigation into whether authorities responded properly to the crew's health and safety issues. The Lincoln is expected to be replaced soon by the carrier George Washington, which is deployed in the Pacific.
The Lincoln left the U.S. West Coast in Nov. last year bound for the Indo-Pacific, then was redirected to the Middle East in Jan. this year. After a stop in Guam in Dec., it remained at sea for 208 consecutive days until calling at Oman on July 7 this year.
Earlier, Cooper spent 10 days visiting Israel, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to discuss responses to Iran and encourage U.S. troops deployed in the region.