USS Abraham Lincoln Returns to San Diego After Prolonged Combat Deployment

The ship departed California in November 2025, initially bound for the South China Sea before being diverted to the Middle East. The mission coincided with the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, forcing the crew into a relentless operational tempo that included 10,000 sorties and 23,000 combat flight hours. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth boarded the vessel shortly before its arrival, praising the group for their "extraordinary heroism" and awarding a presidential unit citation.

Despite the military accolades, the deployment took a severe toll on the personnel aboard the strike group. Last month, Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao confirmed in a letter to lawmakers that the mission saw eight suicide attempts among the crew. Reports of logistical strain also surfaced, with officials acknowledging that limited resupply options during combat forced a reduction in meal variety. For families like Alba Solano’s, the return marks the end of months defined by intermittent, glitchy communication and deep anxiety over their loved ones' well-being. As the crew disembarked, the hardship of the extended mission began to yield to the relief of finally being back on land.