Navy releases photos denying food shortage on warships in Middle East
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The US Navy released photos of “fresh food” service aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Tripoli on Saturday, as the US Navy pushes back against claims of food shortages on Middle Eastern warships.
Footage has emerged showing sailors being underserved during Operation Epic Rage against Iran, but the allegations are denied at the highest levels of the Pentagon, with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth calling them “fake news”.
“Fresh meals. Full service. Mission ready. Sailors aboard USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Tripoli continue to receive regularly prepared meals at sea; no interruptions, no shortages.” The Navy wrote to X Saturday morning.
He shared photos showing full plates of food served to sailors. One of the images showed boxes of food supplies stacked on the ceiling of one of the ships.
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“Sailors aboard USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Tripoli continue to receive regularly prepared meals at sea,” the US Navy said in a statement on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (US Navy)
“Recent reports alleging food shortages and poor quality on our deployed ships are false,” Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle said in a statement Friday.
“Both USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Tripoli have sufficient food onboard to serve their crews with healthy options. The health and well-being of our Sailors and Marines is my top priority, and each crew member continues to receive full-portioned, nutritionally balanced meals,” he added.
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The US Navy disputes reports that sailors on ships in the Middle East were experiencing food shortages during Operation Epic Fury. (US Navy)
In response to Caudle’s statement, Hegseth said, “The US Navy is right. More FAKE NEWS from the Pharisee Press.”
“My team verified the logistics statistics for Lincoln and Tripoli. Both have 30+ days of Class I supplies (food) on board. NavCent monitors this for each ship every day,” Hegseth said. “Our Sailors deserve and receive the best.”
U.S. Central Command Admiral Brad Cooper also said in a statement on Friday that the reports were “clearly false.”
Food supplies appear to be stowed away on a US Navy ship in the Middle East. (US Navy)
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“Our service members are absolutely being fed throughout the region. It’s an absolute priority,” Cooper told reporters.
