USS Abraham Lincoln has begun to head home

The USS Abraham Lincoln is beginning its journey home, per a source familiar. It comes after another ship, the USS George Washington, arrived in the Middle East to relieve the strain on the beleaguered Lincoln.

But the Lincoln is still in the 5th Fleet area of operations, meaning it has not yet left US Central Command’s area of responsibility, a US official told CNN.

The Lincoln has been at sea for an extended deployment during the Iran war, which had sparked concerns among lawmakers and military families after reports of the crew’s worsening mental health and conditions aboard.

- CNN