US carrier strike group movement in South China Sea sparks concern as Iran closes airspace

Amid rising US–Iran tensions, reports say the USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group are moving from the South China Sea toward the Middle East CENTCOM.

Updated on: Jan 15, 2026, 05:44:04 IST

By Shamik Banerjee

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The ongoing tension between the United States and Iran took a fresh turn on Wednesday after News Nation reported that battleship USS Abraham Lincoln and its carrier strike group is being moved from the South China Sea to the Middle East. Kellie Meyer, the White House correspondent of News Nation, reported the movement citing a source with knowledge of the matter.

The aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) near it's homeport at Norfolk, Virginia. (Representational image) (AFP)

The development comes just an hour after FlightRadar24 reported that the Iranian airspace has been partially closed off. Unverified reports of jet aircraft sound of Iran's neighboring nation, Iraq, surfaced.

However, the movement of the USS Abraham Lincoln and its carrier strike group is not linked to any immediate action, as Meyer noted that the movement would take “a week or so” to complete.

Notably, the movement has not been confirmed by the US officials. No other news agency has reported it, as of this writing.

But the development comes amid rising tensions in West Asia and the Middle East. It implies denser US military around Iran amid the protests, fueling speculation of a possible US military intervention.

The US on Wednesday asked personnel in some of its bases in the Middle East to evacuate in what a US diplomat quoted in a Reuters report called only "change of posture." A cause for the change was not specified, the diplomat said.

Among the bases that have been affected by the change of posture was the Al Udeid airbase in Qatar, Reuters confirmed.

Also read: Iran's airspace movement to Pentagon Pizza Index: Concerning report emerges amid Trump threats

Why Iran Closed Its Airspace

On Wednesday, multiple media outlets reported, citing Flightradar24 data, that Iran temporarily closed its airspace around the capital city, Tehran. All flights, except international flights, were barred from operating in the Iranian airspace.

Meanwhile, German carrier Lufthansa said that it would bypass all Iranian and Iraqi Airspace “until further notice,” AFP reported. Lufthansa operates multiple brands across Europe and the Middle East, which include Austrian, Brussels Airlines, Discover, Eurowings, Swiss and ITA Airways.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shamik Banerjee
Shamik is a journalist covering the United States for Hindustan Times. He has more than four years of experience reporting on US politics, sports, and major breaking stories across fast-moving cycles. He previously worked at Times Now and Sportskeeda, building strong newsroom instincts and digital storytelling skills. At HT.com, he focuses on day-to-day coverage of US political developments while also handling high-impact stories that demand speed, accuracy, clarity, and context under pressure. Shamik has extensive experience covering NFL game days over the past two years, coordinating live updates, analysis, and explainers. He is particularly drawn to large news moments such as US elections and the Super Bowl, where he thrives at the news desk working alongside the team. He holds degrees in Media Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia and English Literature from Jadavpur University. Before entering journalism, he briefly worked in digital marketing and political consultancy roles. Currently a Senior Content Producer at HT Digital, he is driven by curiosity, discipline, and a constant desire to explore new and obscure topics. Outside work, he enjoys reading, films, sports, and learning continuously.Read More

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