US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said the acting Navy secretary confirmed eight suicide attempts by personnel assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group after a deployment of more than nine months.
Key facts
- Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said the acting US Navy secretary told her of eight attempted suicides.
- The personnel were assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group.
- The strike group had a lengthy deployment as part of the US war in Iran.
- Al Jazeera reported the roughly 5,000-strong crew was at sea for more than nine months with only one brief port stop.
US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said the acting US Navy secretary informed her of eight attempted suicides by Navy personnel assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, according to the Guardian. The disclosures followed the strike group’s lengthy deployment connected to the US war in Iran.
According to Al Jazeera, the aircraft carrier’s crew of roughly 5,000 personnel was at sea for more than nine months, with only one brief port stop during that time. The extended time at sea has drawn attention to the conditions faced by sailors during the deployment.
The Guardian reported that Gillibrand attributed the confirmation of the eight suicide attempts to the acting Navy secretary. The reporting did not include further details about the condition of those involved or when the attempts occurred.
The developments were reported as part of broader coverage of US politics and foreign policy. In the same coverage, Secretary of State Marco Rubio briefly addressed President Donald Trump’s meeting with Delcy Rodriguez, described as the interim Venezuelan president.
Rodriguez had posed for a photo with Trump at a Manhattan hotel, according to the Guardian, only miles from where her predecessor, Nicolás Maduro, was incarcerated. Rubio described the encounter as “a short meeting, but it was a very important meeting.”
The sources available do not provide additional information about the specific circumstances of the reported suicide attempts, the timing of each incident, or any response measures being taken by the Navy.
Why it matters
The reported figures highlight concerns about the mental health toll of extended military deployments on service members. With a crew of thousands at sea for more than nine months, the disclosures raise questions about the strain placed on personnel during prolonged operations.
Frequently asked questions
Who reported the suicide attempts aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln?
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said the acting US Navy secretary told her of eight attempted suicides by personnel assigned to the carrier strike group, according to the Guardian.
How long was the USS Abraham Lincoln deployed?
According to Al Jazeera, the roughly 5,000-strong crew was at sea for more than nine months with only one brief port stop.
What deployment were the personnel part of?
The Guardian reported the carrier strike group's lengthy deployment was part of the US war in Iran.