<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-danger-of-mines-could-close-strait-of-hormuz/ffd55037-71c1-4712-a54d-c9941c4b270e" rel="" target="" title="US Navy"><span>US Navy</span></a><span> has denied reports of food shortages on board two major vessels participating in the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-april-17-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/f95384a1-2f5d-4d88-9ac7-d41f20746d48" rel="" target="" title="blockade of the Strait of Hormuz"><span>blockade of the Strait of Hormuz</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Yesterday </span><a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/04/16/iran-war-mail-packages-middle-east/89609308007/" rel="" target="" title="USA Today"><span>USA Today</span></a><span> reported crew aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli were not getting enough to eat.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>One photo taken by a Marine showed a mostly empty lunch tray with a single scoop of shredded meat and one tortilla.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-joe-kent-wife-died-hired-national-counterterrorism-centre-usa-news/d1e2182e-8f9c-413e-8954-a26be6e4105c"><strong><span>Trump said he appointed counterterrorism official because his wife died</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Another showed a meal of a handful of boiled carrots, a meat patty and another piece of processed meat.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Neither would be considered enough to satisfy an average person's appetite.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations has issued a statement denying the reports.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/us-navy-food-shortages-uss-abraham-lincoln-uss-tripoli-blockade-strait-of-hormuz-pete-hegseth-iran/e5db289a-18fd-4b03-82e2-a01d5f1d12f3" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Recent reports alleging food shortages and poor quality aboard our deployed ships are false," the statement read.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The US Navy possesses an unmatched logistics capability to sustain operations at sea, and routine menu adjustments are simply how we optimise our endurance to keep our warships in the fight."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Parcels from family members, including food and other supplies, have also not been delivered.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But the Navy announced this morning they had lifted the hold on mail.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Regarding mail and personal packages, a temporary hold on sending mail into theatre, due to combat operations, has been lifted," the statement read.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Our logistical network is highly adaptable, and we remain committed to supporting our warfighters as they execute Operation Epic Fury."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-jessica-tarlov-least-attractive-reporter-fox-the-five-usa-news/caa7a980-abb3-4c7f-a907-844a967b6ecc"><strong><span>Trump calls presenter 'least attractive', demands she be taken off TV</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Democratic congressman Mike Levin expressed his anger in a post on Bluesky.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is completely unacceptable and Congress must investigate," Levin said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span> "Service members aboard the USS Tripoli and USS Abraham Lincoln are rationing food and going without fresh produce."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/pete-hegseth-pulp-fiction-bible-verse-pentagon-sermon-quotes-sean-parnell-usa-news/f79332dc-503b-4e37-98e1-77eb42c1adb5" rel="" target="" title="Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth"><span>Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth</span></a><span> described the reports as "more fake news from the Pharisee Press".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"My team confirmed the logistics stats for the Lincoln &amp; Tripoli. Both have 30+ days of Class I supplies (food) on board," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Our sailors deserve — and receive — the best."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/pete-hegseth-pulp-fiction-bible-verse-pentagon-sermon-quotes-sean-parnell-usa-news/f79332dc-503b-4e37-98e1-77eb42c1adb5" target="" title=""><strong><span>Pentagon lashes reporting of Pete Hegseth's Pulp Fiction Bible verse</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Hegseth has begun to refer to the media as Pharisees, after the group of Jewish religious leaders now remembered as instigating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The reports have drawn the mockery of Iranian officials on social media.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They want the sailors to use the toilets less!" the Iranian Embassy in the UK wrote.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The tweet seemed to reference toilet problems suffered by aircraft carrier the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/uss-gerald-r-ford-carrier-strike-group-speeds-to-eastern-mediterranean-sea/21c12110-40b1-4e15-93ec-fbe00553a931" rel="" target="" title="USS Gerald R Ford"><span>USS Gerald R Ford</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/middle-east-us-iran-tensions-new-aircraft-carrier-in-indian-ocean/c5ec9aae-e09e-4b00-85ec-918f4af2cbe0" rel="" target="" title="USS Ford"><span>USS Ford</span></a><span> was beset by sewage problems that led to daily 45-minute queues for people wanting to use the toilet.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The carrier, with 5000 crew aboard, had been at sea since last June before being taken to Greece for repairs after a fire in the laundry facility last month.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-irs-lawsuit-suing-10-billion-dollars-tax-office-usa-politics-news/929663f2-f255-4936-8084-1d986ee08d65" rel="" target="" title="Trump nears deal that could see him given $14 billion in taxpayer money"><strong><span>Trump nears deal that could see him given $14 billion in taxpayer money</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>