USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) departed the Middle East after nearly seven months at sea, returning to the U.S. 7th Fleet in the Indian Ocean, according to a Navy official. The carrier left San Diego on November 25 and made its last port call in December, operating for 274 days with Carrier Air Wing 9 and escort ships. It remained at sea for 264 days without a declared port visit, surpassing the previous record of 206 days set by USS Dwight D. Eisenhower during the COVID-19 pandemic. Families raised concerns about extended time aboard and logistical difficulties caused by threats of Iranian strikes that limited regional resupply, while U.S. Central Command officials said resupply lines improved earlier in the year. The departure follows the arrival of the Japan‑based USS George Washington (CVN-73) to maintain a two‑carrier presence in the region alongside the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77). The carrier may require another month to reach the West Coast or a port before returning home, potentially making it one of the longest deployments since the end of the Vietnam War.