The Trump administration has acknowledged eight suicide attempts by US service members during the extended deployment of an aircraft carrier to the Middle East, a US lawmaker has revealed, AFP reports.

The information emerged in a letter, seen by AFP, that was sent by Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao in response to questions from Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand about conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln.

Reports of deteriorating living conditions and poor mental health on board the carrier since it first deployed to sea last November made headlines in the United States, provoking criticism of President Donald Trump’s war against Iran.

“Since the beginning of Lincoln’s deployment, there have been a total of eight suicide attempts across the strike group,” says the letter from the navy secretary, the service’s top civilian official.

“There have been no suicides onboard during this deployment,” the letter adds.