A US Navy sailor has offered a stark glimpse inside the USS Abraham Lincoln after more than 250 days of deployment, as allegations of poor food, sanitation problems and deteriorating living conditions fuel a growing controversy over the treatment of its crew. The claims come as the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier approaches the end of an unusually long mission in the Middle East, where it has been supporting US operations during the war with Iran.
The sailor's account adds a first-hand dimension to reports circulating among military families and lawmakers. The allegations include filthy facilities and shortages affecting daily life, and have emerged alongside wider reports of sailors struggling with exhaustion and mental-health pressures after months at sea with almost no opportunity to go ashore.
