US Navy ship damaged in incident in Middle East

A US Navy supply ship was damaged during a mission in the Middle East, officials confirmed on Tuesday.

The ship named USNS Big Hornsupplies fuel and provisions to the USS Abraham Lincoln Aircraft carrier battle group.

The force remains deployed in the region despite rising tensions resulting from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Israeli attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The incident is currently under investigation and few details have been released so far.

An anonymous naval official confirmed that the Big HornThe crew was safe and there were no signs of an oil leak on the boat.

The official declined to disclose the exact location of the incident, but confirmed that it occurred in the wider Middle East.

To ensure maritime security and prevent further escalation involving groups such as Hezbollah, additional military assets have been deployed to the region.

Oilers like the Big Horn They normally have about 80 civilians and five military personnel on board.

Another anonymous source mentioned that private tugboats were assisting the ship and a damage assessment was underway.

Unconfirmed reports from maritime tracking site gCaptain showed flooding on board. The website suggested the ship had “run aground.” […] and partially flooded off the coast of Oman.”

These details remain speculation, but have raised concerns about the condition of the ship and the potential impact on U.S. naval operations in the region.

The USNS Big Horna Henry J. Kaiser-class fleet supply tanker, plays a critical role in supporting long-range naval operations, particularly in regions such as the Arabian Sea.

Its main task is to supply warships with fuel and goods, so that carrier groups such as the USS Abraham Lincoln to remain operational over longer periods of time.

While the USS Abraham Lincoln While the other ships in their attack group are nuclear-powered, they rely on fossil fuels and must be replenished at sea.

In addition, Lincoln-class aircraft must be regularly refueled with jet fuel.

Photos published earlier this month showed the Big Horn Supply of Lincolnpatrolling the Arabian Sea amid ongoing regional instability.

The USS Abraham Lincoln The strike group is a key element of the U.S. Navy's presence in the Middle East, especially amid rising tensions between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah.

In the past, refill oilers such as the Big Horn are critical to maintaining the Navy's global reach and providing the necessary logistics for extended operations.

The U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command, which operates these ships with civilian crews, has played a key role in enabling aircraft carriers and other warships to remain at sea without having to return to port for resupply.

The Navy has not provided any information on whether other supply ships are available to support the Big Horn in case major repairs are required.

The lack of other oil tankers in the region is likely to create logistical challenges if the ship cannot continue its mission.

This article contains reporting from The Associated Press.