United Arab Emirates intercepts incoming Iranian drone

An Iranian drone was intercepted early Monday over the United Arab Emirates’ territorial waters, the Defense Ministry said. The attack followed an exchange of fire between Iran and the United States over the weekend, which was the first significant military action in the war for more than a month.

The U.S. attacked rocket launchers on an Iranian island Sunday, saying they were preparing to launch mines into the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded by launching missiles at U.S. sites in Jordan, all of which were intercepted.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that his country wasn’t seeking war, but that “we will respond decisively to aggressors. The UAE called the attack a “dangerous escalation” from Iran.

During the lull in fighting, the U.S. has been ratcheting up economic pressure on Iran with the hope of forcing concessions from Tehran, including reopening the vital Strait of Hormuz to shipping.

USS Lincoln nearing Thailand for expected port call

The American aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln is nearing Thailand, where it’s expected to make a port visit after its lengthy deployment to the Middle East.

The carrier, with around 5,000 sailors and its accompanying battle group, was sailing Monday toward the Gulf of Thailand, where it was expected to make a port call near the city of Pattaya.

The Lincoln, one of the U.S. Navy’s largest warships, was supporting American efforts in the Iran war. Its deployment included a record-setting uninterrupted time at sea of more than 250 days.