New Delhi, Aug. 14 -- US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday (August 13) rejected reports of deteriorating conditions aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, saying accounts of poor morale, supply shortages and mental health concerns had been "completely misrepresented" as the ship continues its extended deployment in the Middle East.

The roughly 5,000-member carrier has been at sea since November 2025 and has been deployed to the Middle East since January, supporting the US military campaign against Iran.

Two military-focused publications, Navy Times and Stars and Stripes, have reported suicide attempts and declining morale among sailors aboard the carrier, as per Reuters.

Asked about the reports during a visit to Pana...