USS Liberty Incident

Naval incident that occurred during the Six-Day War when Israeli aircraft and torpedo boats attacked the USS Liberty, a U.S. Navy technical research ship conducting intelligence operations in international waters off the Sinai Peninsula. The assault began with strafing runs by Israeli Air Force jets, followed by torpedo boat attacks that killed 34 American sailors and wounded 171 others, making it one of the deadliest attacks on a U.S. naval vessel during peacetime operations.

Israeli forces claimed they mistook the Liberty for an Egyptian cargo ship, despite the vessel flying American flags and displaying U.S. Navy markings. The attack lasted approximately two hours, with Israeli forces targeting the ship's communications equipment and life rafts. Captain William McGonagle maintained his position and prevented the ship from sinking, later receiving the Medal of Honor for his actions during the attack.

The incident sparked immediate diplomatic tensions, resolved when Israel formally apologized and paid $13 million in compensation to families of the deceased and wounded sailors. However, controversy persists among survivors, military officials, and researchers who argue the attack was deliberate, citing factors including the ship's clearly marked identity, extended duration of the assault, and Israel's advanced intelligence capabilities. Official investigations by both governments concluded the attack resulted from mistaken identification during wartime confusion, while critics continue to dispute this explanation based on testimony from Liberty survivors and declassified documents.