Kathmandu— The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln sailed past Singapore early Sunday morning as it made its way back to the United States following a grueling deployment in the Middle East. The massive vessel was spotted by Associated Press journalists on the Indonesian island of Batam just after 1 a.m. local time, en route to a planned port visit in Thailand before returning to its home base.

Deployment Details

The USS Abraham Lincoln has been supporting U.S. operations against Iran during its deployment, which included a record-setting uninterrupted time at sea of more than 250 days. Concerns have grown about the crew's well-being due to reports of deteriorating mental health and shortages of supplies such as food and hygiene products.

Return Journey

The aircraft carrier is expected to stop in Thailand for rest and recovery before returning to its U.S. base. Thai officials have confirmed that the Lincoln will make a port visit, allowing the crew some much-needed respite after their extended deployment.

(With inputs from AP)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.