CENTCOM Reports 62 Vessel Diversions as Concerns Grow Over US Naval Forces

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Friday that its forces have intensified operations in the Arabian Sea as part of the US maritime blockade against Iran, reporting that 62 commercial vessels have been redirected, three disabled, and two boarded as Washington seeks to enforce the blockade.

In a separate development, reports citing messages from US sailors and their families described difficult conditions aboard American warships and at military facilities in the Middle East, including shortages of food and clean water, prolonged deployments at sea, exhaustion, sleep disruption and growing psychological distress.

In a statement posted by CENTCOM on X on Aug. 14, the US military said its forces had taken action involving dozens of commercial vessels operating in the Arabian Sea.

“A US Sailor directs an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter during nighttime flight operations aboard guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59) as the ship sails in the Arabian Sea and enforces the US blockade against Iran,” the statement said.

CENTCOM added that, as of Aug. 14, its forces had redirected 62 commercial vessels, disabled three and boarded two to ensure compliance with the blockade.

The operations come as Washington continues its maritime pressure campaign against Iran.

Reports describe mounting strain among US naval personnel

Meanwhile, a report by MeidasTouch, citing messages and documents received from several US military vessels and units, described difficult living conditions among American forces deployed aboard aircraft carriers, warships and at military facilities in the Middle East.

The report said personnel serving aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS George H.W. Bush, as well as US forces stationed in Kuwait, have faced prolonged deployments and difficult conditions amid continuing tensions in the region and extended military missions.

A family member of a sailor who spent 11 months aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln told the outlet that the ship's water supply system had completely failed at the beginning of the deployment, leaving sailors unable to shower or wash their clothes for extended periods.

The family member also described problems involving sanitation systems before the sailor left the vessel.

Another sailor aboard the same ship confirmed that, because of the confrontations linked to Iran, personnel had gone nearly six months without seeing land, while basic supplies were becoming increasingly scarce.

According to the report, a family member of a sailor aboard the USS George H.W. Bush said personnel had spent more than 136 days at sea without a clear return date. The family described severe shortages of food, water and even soap, saying the conditions had contributed to a sharp decline in morale and growing psychological distress.

A mother whose son is stationed at a US military facility in Kuwait also appealed for assistance, saying he was suffering from hunger, exhaustion and fear and was in serious psychological and health distress.

The wife of a sailor aboard the Lincoln said personnel were completely exhausted because of sleep deprivation and the lack of adequate rest. She said sailors who asked their commanders about their conditions were told to focus only on the current day.

She added that even sailors with more than 20 years of military experience were describing the current deployment as the worst experience of their military careers and felt that their concerns and requests were not being heard.

The concerns come alongside an Aug. 12 report by Military Times concerning the USS Abraham Lincoln, which carries nearly 5,000 sailors and Marines.

According to the report, the aircraft carrier began its deployment on Nov. 21 and had remained in the region for more than eight months while supporting US military operations against Iran. The deployment, which had been scheduled to end in May, was extended indefinitely.

The report highlighted several incidents involving the psychological wellbeing of personnel aboard the carrier.

Anabell Loma said her husband, a veteran naval officer with 13 years of service, had attempted to jump from the ship into the water because of severe and prolonged exhaustion. He was subsequently placed under medical supervision, and she said she feared the psychological situation could ultimately cost him his career.

In another incident, Maria Rodriguez, the wife of another sailor, said her husband intervened when a fellow sailor was attempting to harm himself. She said three other sailors helped restrain and rescue the colleague.

The newspaper Stars and Stripes previously reported that the ship's command informed all personnel through its official loudspeaker system about the incident involving the prevention of a fellow service member's suicide.

More than 200 family members of sailors in San Diego also met last week with Hung Kao, a senior official of the US Navy. Families expressed deep concern over the psychological wellbeing, exhaustion, disrupted sleep and safety of personnel aboard the ship.

Vice Admiral Joseph Cahill, commander of the naval forces, acknowledged the severity of the situation and said several mental health counselors and religious chaplains had been made available aboard warships to provide psychological support.

Kao also told families that the Navy was preparing to send an aircraft carrier to replace personnel aboard the Lincoln, but did not disclose a deployment timetable because of operational security.

The developments underscore the dual pressures surrounding the US maritime campaign against Iran: an expanding effort to restrict commercial shipping and enforce the blockade, alongside reports of prolonged deployments and mounting strain among American personnel involved in the operation.