Photos of meager meals served to American soldiers deployed in the Middle East spark debate on military rations

The USA Today channel published two photos sent to their families by two navy military personnel, who complained about the food rations they were being distributed, against a backdrop of an uncertain duration campaign.

Published on April 17, 2026 at 17:39, updated on April 17, 2026 at 23:11, Reading time: 4 min

As the American military deployment in the Middle East shows no signs of stopping, parents of soldiers are worried about the supply of ships where their children are located, reported the American daily USA Today on Thursday, April 16th. The newspaper published two photos of particularly scant meal trays, received by the relatives of military personnel on two US Navy ships, causing strong reactions.

One of the two pictures shows a tray two-thirds empty, filled with shredded meat and a flatbread tortilla, obtained by USA Today from the father of a crew member of the USS Tripoli. This ship, along with two other vessels, left Japan over a month ago with 3,500 people on board and are now deployed as part of the blockade of Iranian ports at the request of Donald Trump.

According to her father, this military member reports in her rare messages to her family that the crew is rationing their supplies, fresh products have disappeared from the menu, and hygiene products are also running short. Another soldier from the USS Tripoli fears that the troops’ morale will reach “historically low levels,” and does not think the ship will be able to restock in a port before the end of the operation, according to a message sent on April 11 to his mother, also seen by USA Today.

The journal also published a photo sent to her family in mid-April by a sailor from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham-Lincoln, also deployed in the region. On this other meal tray, you can see some boiled carrots, a minced steak, and a slice of processed meat whose exact nature remains difficult to define. “The food is tasteless, and there is far from enough of it, and [the soldiers] are always hungry,” a pastor from West Virginia reported to USA Today, who received this information from a faithful individual whose son is on the same aircraft carrier.

With the help of her community, she has already sent 22 packages to the USS Lincoln troops, but only six arrived in Tokyo on April 14, and none reached the ship. The US postal services have suspended deliveries to 27 military zip codes in the Middle East due to airspace closure and other disruptions, according to an army spokesperson. This system usually allows sending packages to soldiers on duty. The packages are being held until further notice, depriving the military personnel of much-needed comfort.

These debates come as the United States escalates large-scale deployments. Over 10,000 American military personnel are participating in operations in Middle East waters, according to the US Central Command, with twelve ships and over 100 aircraft. The USS Gerald-Ford, initially mobilized in the operation in Venezuela and now off the coast of Crete, has already broken the record for the longest deployment of an American aircraft carrier since the Vietnam War. On Sunday, it will mark 300 days on the mission.

These few testimonies alone do not allow an accurate assessment of the actual food supplies on board the ships engaged in the Middle East. However, the photos released by USA Today have already stirred passions on military forums, both to denounce the army’s negligence and to question the seriousness of the accusations. “I know that everyone is making efforts, but our soldiers deserve much better than this,” commented Representative Randy Fine, a prominent figure in the Maga movement, sharing images of the meal trays. The official added that he will work “with the army to resolve the problem as quickly as possible.”

Iranian authorities seized the opportunity for propaganda. “No treats for American foot soldiers in Israel,” mocked the Iranian Embassy in Sierra Leone. On Friday night, the central command clarified to franceinfo that “the US army’s logistical operations” continued to “replenish ships and ground posts.” It also added that mail distribution has resumed for stationed military personnel throughout the region.