The U.S. Navy's USS Abraham Lincoln, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, transited the Strait of Malacca and the Singapore Strait over the weekend while heading to Thailand for a liberty port call at Laem Chabang, officials said.

Lincoln has been deployed for 285 days without a liberty call, a period that ranks among the longest in recent carrier operations. The ship reactivated its Automatic Identification System on the first day of the transit, having last broadcast its position on January 28, 2026, during a prior transit in the opposite direction.

Two other carrier strike groups remain in the Middle East, where the United States has enforced a naval blockade against Iran. CENTCOM announced a new series of airstrikes against Iranian targets after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was observed preparing to launch sea‑mine‑capable rockets and after attempted attacks on commercial shipping and U.S. personnel.

The Lincoln carrier strike group was escorted by guided‑missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls and guided‑missile destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. The cruiser, a Ticonderoga‑class vessel, adds 122 vertical launch system cells and previously served as the IAMD commander for the George Washington strike group. The rationale for attaching the cruiser to the Lincoln group has not been disclosed by CENTCOM or NAVCENT. The destroyer is an Arleigh Burke‑class Flight IIA vessel equipped with the Aegis Combat System Baseline 9, designed for air and missile defense.

In the Middle East, the George Washington strike group, accompanied by destroyer USS Shoup, and the George H.W. Bush strike group, led by cruiser USS Princeton and destroyers USS Ross and USS Donald Cook, continue to monitor maritime traffic and support the blockade. CENTCOM reported that since the blockade resumed, it has redirected 84 commercial vessels, disabled three, and boarded two.

On Sunday, CENTCOM announced that U.S. forces struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz after observing IRGC preparations to fire sea‑mine‑capable rockets. Iran responded by launching ballistic missiles at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, which Jordan’s military said it intercepted. The exchange marked the first U.S.–Iran combat action since July.

In the United States, three carriers are currently active: two are undergoing training while one prepares for deployment. USS Dwight D. Eisenhower transited the Atlantic in late August, USS Carl Vinson completed tailored ship’s training off the California coast, and USS Theodore Roosevelt is pier‑side at Naval Air Station North Island awaiting orders. The upcoming deployment of USS Ronald Reagan, which is completing a Docking Planned Incremental Availability, is expected to finish at the end of August 2026, though the ship has not yet gotten underway. Maintenance delays across the fleet have limited the number of carriers available for deployment, with several carriers in homeport or in maintenance.

Overall, the carrier force posture remains unchanged from the previous report. Lincoln’s deployment is expected to become the second‑longest in the modern carrier era, after the USS Gerald R. Ford’s 326‑day mission earlier this year. The situation in the Middle East remains fluid as U.S. forces continue to enforce the blockade and conduct strikes.

The Institute for the Study of War and the Critical Threats Project released an update on August 31, 2026, covering recent actions in the Strait of Hormuz and the wider conflict.

US Central Command announced that it had cleared mines previously laid by Iran in the internationally recognized traffic separation scheme of the Strait of Hormuz. The same announcement noted that US forces struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island after observing Iranian forces preparing to launch mines into the strait.

CENTCOM stated that this was the first US strike in Iran since July 29 and marked the first observed Iranian attempt to deploy mines using a shore‑based delivery method. Iran used mobile missile launchers to fire mine‑laden rockets from the coast, a tactic that reflects constraints on its fast‑attack craft capability.

Iranian state media denied CENTCOM’s claim that the strait was demined. The IRGC Navy reported that two sea mines stopped a supertanker on an “illegal route,” while CENTCOM denied that any ships had struck Iranian mines.

On August 30, Iran launched ballistic missiles and drones at the King Hussein and Muwaffaq Salti air bases in Jordan. Jordanian forces intercepted eight missiles, and US officials said that most incoming munitions were intercepted with no significant damage to the bases.

The UAE intercepted a drone over its territorial waters and announced that it would halt all trade and financial transactions with Iran.

Iranian officials warned that a deteriorating economy, with foreign trade down 35 percent and inflation reaching 66 percent, could trigger renewed domestic unrest. The judiciary chief said security forces are at their highest level of readiness to act decisively against anyone who attempts to incite protests.

Iranian‑backed Iraqi militias, including Kataib Sayyid al Shuhada, have set conditions for disarmament, such as the expulsion of Iranian Kurdish opposition groups from Iraqi Kurdistan. Militia leaders reiterated these demands in public statements and at memorial ceremonies.

The Iraqi government referred draft laws concerning the Popular Mobilization Forces to parliament. The legislation, revised after US concerns about Iranian influence, proposes changes to retirement age and force structure, and could affect the influence of Iranian‑backed factions within the PMF.

Yemen’s Saudi‑backed National Resistance Forces seized a shipment of drone components intended for the Houthis, including Chinese‑made wireless modems and drone engines, after previously confiscating similar electronic caches.

Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei appointed a new group of senior IRGC commanders in early August, reshaping the country’s military leadership.

The appointments followed a turnover in Iranian military leadership that analysts attributed to U.S. and Israeli decapitation strikes in 2025 and 2026.

Ahmad Vahidi, who has served as IRGC commander since March 2026, previously led the IRGC intelligence service and played a role in the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Lebanon, for which a Red Notice was issued by Interpol in 2007. He oversaw domestic crackdowns during the 2022‑2023 protests and directed missile and drone operations across the Middle East. Vahidi also participated in the recall of the Iranian negotiating team from Islamabad in April 2026.

Hossein Taeb was appointed chief of the Basij Organization, a position he previously held from 2009 to 2022 while heading the IRGC Intelligence Organization. He was involved in domestic repression and a 2022 plot to kidnap Israeli diplomats in Turkey, after which he was dismissed by Ali Khamenei. The appointment returns him to Basij leadership, with a mandate to develop a popular intelligence network.

Mohammad Ali Jafari, a senior IRGC strategist, developed the Mosaic Defense doctrine in response to the 2001 U.S. invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. He led the IRGC during the 2009 Green Movement crackdown and the 2017‑2018 protests, and commanded ground forces in Syria from 2015 to 2016. Jafari now heads the IRGC socio‑cultural headquarters and advocates a hardline negotiating stance, demanding that the United States cease support for Hezbollah, lift sanctions, pay war reparations, and recognize Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the current speaker of the Iranian parliament, previously served as an IRGC officer, Tehran mayor, and head of the Law Enforcement Command. He has been linked to corruption allegations and to the use of lethal force against protesters in 2003. While he supports diplomatic talks with the United States, his influence on policy appears limited.

Mohsen Rezaei was named personal military adviser and secretary of the Supreme National Security Council. He previously commanded the IRGC during the Iran‑Iraq War and received a Red Notice for his involvement in the 1994 bombing of a Jewish cultural center in Argentina. Rezaei has called for Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon and pushes for maximalist negotiation demands, including permanent control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Ali Abdollahi was appointed chief of the Armed Forces General Staff, becoming the senior officer responsible for coordination between the IRGC and the regular army. He previously served as deputy to Ghalibaf in the IRGC Air Force and the Law Enforcement Command and held senior joint command positions during the 12‑Day War. Mojtaba Khamenei tasked him with merging the Armed Forces General Staff and the Khatam ol Anbia Central Headquarters to streamline wartime decision‑making.

The reshuffle places hardline IRGC figures at the center of Iran’s strategic decision‑making, potentially changing the character of its threat to the United States and its partners. The long‑term implications remain uncertain.

U.S. Central Command struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island on Sunday, targeting systems that Iran said could launch sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz. The United States had refrained from direct attacks on Iranian targets for about a month while applying economic pressure. CENTCOM said the launchers were preparing to fire rockets equipped with sea mines, a capability Iran claims to possess. Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins confirmed that the launchers were struck and said Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps forces were observed preparing to launch rockets with sea mines. Iran claims the rockets are a variant of the Fajr-5, a 333mm artillery rocket capable of delivering sea mines. The system was first demonstrated in a military exercise over a year ago, according to a video. CENTCOM did not specify the exact type of launcher or whether this was the first use of the system. Iran responded with ballistic missile attacks on a Jordanian air base that hosts U.S. troops, firing eight missiles; Jordanian officials reported that all missiles were intercepted and no casualties or damage occurred. U.S. officials stated that sea mines previously laid in the Strait of Hormuz have been cleared and that no commercial vessels have been struck by mines in the waterway. The Joint Maritime Information Center reported that commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained reduced, with a modest uptick from recent lows but still far below baseline levels. The International Maritime Organization confirmed no additional attacks have been recorded. Analysts noted that delivering sea mines via rocket could increase the speed of minelaying, extend the range of minelayers, and provide a standoff distance for the launching platform. The limited payload of the rocket‑delivered mines means they could cause localized damage but may have limited effect on large vessels. The potential impact on shipping could lead to reduced transit activity, according to industry observations. President Trump told a news outlet that the United States would respond forcefully to the Iranian missile attack. U.S. officials indicated that limited strikes against Iran’s mine‑laying infrastructure are under consideration to degrade its capability. The incident underscores the ongoing risk to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz despite recent mine‑clearance efforts.

President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he will nominate Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao to serve as the permanent Secretary of the Navy.

Cao, a retired Navy captain who graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1996, served as Undersecretary of the Navy beginning in October and assumed the acting secretary role after John Phelan was removed in April. He previously ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the U.S. House and later for the Senate in Virginia as a Republican.

Trump said on Truth Social that he is pleased to nominate Cao and urged the Senate to confirm the appointment promptly so he can continue his work. The Senate has not yet taken action on the nomination.

Cao has emphasized shipbuilding and improvements to sailor quality of life during his tenure. The nomination awaits Senate confirmation, and a vote date has not been set.

The U.S. Navy released a new Request for Information (RFI) on September 18 seeking a prototype for its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) Increment 1 program, a carrier‑based unmanned combat aircraft that aligns more closely with a traditional unmanned combat aerial vehicle than with a smaller “loyal wingman” concept.

The request follows earlier efforts such as the X‑47B demonstrator and the canceled UCLASS program, which was replaced by the MQ‑25 tanker. Recent procurement documents indicate the Navy is looking for a higher‑capability drone that can operate from its aircraft carriers.

The RFI specifies that the Increment 1 CCA must carry four externally mounted weapons weighing up to 2,500 pounds each, for a potential total external load of 10,000 pounds, though this may not reflect normal operational loads. The aircraft is required to launch from catapults and land using arresting gear on both Ford‑class and Nimitz‑class carriers, operate within existing deck, elevator, hangar, and support constraints, and maintain a combat radius that allows at least 30 minutes on station with sufficient fuel to return to the carrier. It must also support internal weapons carriage to reduce radar signature and improve aerodynamic performance, and demonstrate mission and flight autonomy that covers launch, recovery, and third‑party software integration, as well as individual and multi‑aircraft autonomous operations.

The Navy emphasizes the need for the platform to operate in highly contested environments and to incorporate stealth features that enhance survivability. While crewed‑uncrewed teaming is part of the concept, the requirements state that the aircraft will not rely on continuous crew supervision. The prototype is expected to achieve its first flight within 24 months of a contract award and to receive carrier certification within a three‑year development period. The Navy targets a unit cost of around $30 million per aircraft, an increase from an earlier $15 million estimate, reflecting the larger airframe, greater weapons capacity, range, autonomy, and survivability.

The RFI also aligns with the broader Air Wing of the Future effort, which envisions unmanned aircraft capable of strike, anti‑submarine, electronic warfare, ISR, and logistics missions, and potentially extending reach beyond 1,000 nautical miles without aerial refueling. Companies including Anduril, Boeing, General Atomics, and Northrop Grumman have previously participated in conceptual studies, while Lockheed Martin is developing a common control architecture. Responses are due by September 18.

Taiwan’s military conducted live‑fire artillery drills on August 27 in its Third, Fourth and Fifth Operational Zones, employing unmanned aerial systems to locate targets and transmit data to artillery units for rapid precision strikes. The exercises were presented as a demonstration of tactics learned from the war in Ukraine and an effort to prepare for a potential invasion scenario. At the same time, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security announced an investigation into Apex Logistics, a Singapore‑based firm, for alleged violations of export controls by facilitating illegal semiconductor shipments to China; the probe covers 47 shipments and could result in the first criminal action against a transportation company for chip smuggling.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said the drones enabled a faster “precision kill chain,” a capability highlighted by recent combat in Ukraine where drone‑corrected artillery reduced the need for large mechanized formations. Analysts note that while such systems increase frontline lethality, they may not be sufficient to stop a PLA mechanized offensive. Taiwan is also upgrading its Hai Lung‑class diesel‑electric submarines with Mk‑48 Mod 6AT torpedoes and Harpoon anti‑ship missiles to improve undersea warfare in littoral zones, a move timed as its indigenous submarine program faces delays. In addition, the Legislative Yuan passed a special NT$240 billion budget on August 27 to procure unmanned systems and develop a domestic drone industry, a measure that differs from the administration’s proposal and imposes annual spending caps that could slow acquisition if political disagreement arises.

The Central Election Commission approved a referendum on repealing Taiwan’s nuclear‑free homeland policy, to be placed on the November local election ballot, asking voters whether to reintroduce nuclear power. Proponents say expanded nuclear capacity could lessen reliance on imported liquefied natural gas, which currently supplies about half of Taiwan’s electricity and is stored for roughly 12 days, thereby reducing vulnerability to PRC coercion over energy supplies. Suspected PRC cyberattacks targeted several energy firms in early July, and state media released images of missile strikes on mock LNG facilities and claimed plans to blockade Taiwan’s ports in December 2025, heightening concerns about energy security. The PRC also increased naval activity near Taiwan, with the Coast Guard reporting a record 244 vessels in Taiwanese waters in July and multiple incursions of coast guard ships into restricted waters around Kinmen and Pratas Island during August.

The integration of cheap strike drones with traditional artillery may delay the obsolescence of Taiwan’s high‑end firepower but does not guarantee protection against a PLA invasion, and the outcome of the U.S. investigation into Apex Logistics remains pending, with potential civil and criminal penalties including a Temporary Denial Order that could restrict the firm’s export of U.S. goods for up to 180 days.

NATO fighter jets were scrambled and Estonian air defense units were activated early Tuesday after a drone entered Estonian airspace near the Russian border. Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said the air alerts were a direct consequence of Russia’s war against Ukraine and that NATO responded as planned. Estonian Brig. Gen. Riivo Valge reported that about ten drones were tracked near the border, including one that flew from Russia toward Narva before turning back and another that crossed into the southeast and remained close to the border for roughly thirty minutes. Turkish F‑16s stationed at Amari Air Base, part of NATO’s air policing mission, were scrambled; the jets did not fire their weapons and no drones crashed. Officials noted that repeated drone incursions involving Russian and Ukrainian systems have been observed along NATO’s eastern flank, with some allies accusing Russia of using electronic warfare to redirect Ukrainian drones into NATO airspace. Drone activity has also increased in central Europe, where unmanned aircraft have been spotted near U.S. and NATO bases in recent months. A drone equipped with explosives was discovered at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany last month, prompting officials to say the threat level had risen. The incident remains under investigation and the operators of the drones have not been identified.

On August 28, 2026, U.S. Marines and sailors from the USS San Antonio (LPD-17) boarded a vessel suspected of serving as a floating refueling station for narco boats and subsequently sank it after a joint operation with Ecuadorian authorities.

The vessel had been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury for supporting the Ecuadorian organized crime group Los Choneros, and the operation was conducted by Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere in cooperation with the Ecuadorian government.

During the interdiction, personnel removed individuals from the ship and escorted them safely to Ecuador; the number of detainees was not specified in the available reports. A similar interdiction occurred on August 21, when the Coast Guard stopped a vessel carrying approximately 7,250 pounds of cocaine, detained five people, and later destroyed the vessel because it posed a navigation hazard.

The August operations followed a two‑month pause in such actions. According to a statement from Gen. Francis Donovan, commander of U.S. Southern Command, the removal of the floating refueling station disrupted a logistics node used for at‑sea drug trafficking.

The USS Abraham Lincoln arrived in Thailand on Wednesday for its first regular port call after 286 days at sea, concluding a deployment that included 208 consecutive days at sea and 200 days in a combat zone.

The carrier, with a crew of about 5,000 sailors and Marines, had left San Diego on November 21, stopped briefly in Guam and Oman, and spent 208 days continuously at sea, the longest uninterrupted stretch of its current deployment. Aircraft carriers normally make port calls every 30 to 45 days for maintenance and crew rest.

The ship entered Laem Chabang, a port north of Pattaya, while two accompanying vessels, the guided‑missile destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. and the cruiser USS Robert Smalls, docked in Sriracha and Map Thut respectively. Thai Defense Ministry spokesman Rear Adm. Surasant Kongsiri said the visit is limited to crew rest and recreation and no joint military operations are planned, according to a Bangkok Post report on August 26.

The extended deployment raised concerns among sailors and families about onboard conditions. Stars and Stripes reported on August 11 that some crew members experienced shortages of food and water and reported deteriorating mental health; at least one service member was prevented from jumping from the ship, sailors told Stars and Stripes.

The Abraham Lincoln was relieved in the Central Command area on August 19 by the USS George Washington. The George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group and the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group are also operating in the region, according to the latest USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker.

On the same day, U.S. Central Command announced fresh strikes against Iran after recent attempts against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and against U.S. service members, the command said on X.