A U.S. Navy replenishment ship in the Middle East sustained damage in an incident currently under investigation, officials revealed on Tuesday. The USNS Big Horn, which had supplied the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group, suffered the damage amid heightened tensions due to the Israel-Hamas conflict and Israel’s strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon. While the exact location of the incident was not disclosed, the Big Horn’s crew was reported safe with no signs of an oil leak. The vessel was being supported by tugboats and assessments were ongoing. Rumors of the Big Horn running aground and flooding off the coast of Oman circulated, but details remained unclear. Replenishment ships like the Big Horn play a crucial role in supplying fuel and other resources to ships in the region, including the Lincoln. It remains unclear if other replenishment ships are available in the area. The U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command did not provide any further information on the matter.
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