00:00Iran just pushed U.S. naval defenses to the limit twice in a single day.
00:22First, a drone threatened the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea.
00:27Then, fast-attack boats attempted to hijack a U.S.-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz.
00:34Several reports claim another drone was spotted later.
00:37So here's the question on everyone's mind.
00:40Could Iran actually hit or sink a U.S. aircraft carrier today?
00:46On February 3, an Iranian surveillance drone, possibly a Shahed-139 or Shahed-129,
00:53maneuvered aggressively toward the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group,
00:58roughly 500 miles from Iran's coast.
01:01U.S. forces first tried de-escalation, but the drone kept advancing.
01:06A U.S. Navy F-35C Lightning II launched from the carrier and intercepted the drone, shooting it down.
01:14No damage, no casualties.
01:17But the message from Tehran was unmistakable.
01:19We're watching and we're testing your defenses.
01:23Iran, however, claimed it was a routine surveillance mission in international waters.
01:28Analysts disagree, calling it a deliberate probe of U.S. reactions.
01:34Just a few hours later, the MV Stena Imperative, a U.S.-flagged tanker critical for fueling U.S. operations,
01:42came under threat.
01:43First, IRGC fast attack craft supported by a drone approached at high speed, ordering the captain to stop and prepare for boarding.
01:53Experts describe both incidents as classic probing operations.
01:58Iran was measuring reaction time of U.S. forces, rules of engagement, defensive strength, ability to project power in strategic waterways.
02:08So could Iran actually sink the USS Abraham Lincoln today?
02:13The short answer?
02:14Extremely unlikely.
02:16Carriers operate within strike groups, protected by guided missile destroyers and cruisers,
02:23advanced radar and missile defense systems, fighter jets and stealth aircraft, and submarines and layered surveillance.
02:30Iran's strategy isn't to go head-to-head, it's about disruption and deterrence, not direct confrontation.
02:38All of this is unfolding as U.S. military assets surge in the region.
02:44Fighter jets in Jordan, carrier strike groups at sea, missile defenses on alert,
02:49and the nuclear talks are resuming in Oman, fragile and high stakes.
02:54Neither side wants war, but both are pushing the limits of the other's patience and capabilities.
03:01So did Iran sink a U.S. warship?
03:04No, not even close.
03:06But it tested the shield, showed its reach, and reminded the world how fragile security is in the Strait of Hormuz and Arabian Sea.
03:14The question now isn't if another test will happen, it's when.
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