Eight sailors from the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group attempted suicide during a deployment that overlapped with US combat operations against Iran, according to figures released by the US Navy.

Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao disclosed the data in a letter obtained by AFP and CNN. He provided the figures in response to questions from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand about the morale and mental health of sailors serving with the carrier strike group. Cao said no service members had died by suicide during the deployment.

The USS Abraham Lincoln has spent more than 260 days deployed in the Middle East, supporting US combat operations against Iran. The carrier also set a modern US Navy record for the longest uninterrupted period at sea without a port visit, according to the Associated Press. Between 6,000 and 7,000 sailors were deployed with the Lincoln strike group, CNN reported.

"Since the beginning of Lincoln's deployment, there have been a total of eight suicide attempts across the strike group," the Navy secretary said in the letter. "There have been no suicides onboard during this deployment," it added.

The letter gave details of two incidents. A sailor assigned to an air wing "went overboard from the ship in early August" and was quickly recovered by a search and rescue helicopter. The sailor was then taken off the ship for follow-up care. In another incident, a sailor "attempted to go overboard in March and was stopped by his shipmates" before being returned to the homeport.

The Navy had earlier rejected claims that the carrier was facing a mental health crisis. In a response to CNN, the Navy said: “We have not observed an increase in suicidal ideations or attempts aboard the ship. We take every service member’s well-being seriously and have religious, medical and mental health professionals available to assess and address concerns as they arise.”

Military families and lawmakers raised concerns in August over reported suicide attempts, other mental health problems, food shortages and poor hygiene aboard the carrier. The Navy acknowledged supply challenges but denied that a mental health crisis was taking place on the Lincoln.

President Donald Trump also dismissed concerns from family members about the welfare of sailors and rejected the suggestion that the deployment had lasted too long. "Not nearly long enough," he told reporters.

The Lincoln eventually stopped in Thailand in early September after spending 286 days at sea. US Central Command Commander Adm. Brad Cooper also acknowledged mental health challenges aboard the carrier.

“Here’s an important fact: Of the US Navy’s 11 active aircraft carriers, the Lincoln currently has among the lowest number of cases related to mental health,” Cooper posted on X after visiting the ship last month. “This doesn’t mean that all is perfect. Find any of the nearly 4 million Navy veterans in America today and they will likely tell you that service at sea for long periods isn’t for everyone.”