1967 USS
Liberty incident,
On June
8, 1967, during the Six-Day War, the USS Liberty, a United States Navy
technical research (intelligence) ship, was attacked by Israeli Air Force jet
fighters and Israeli Navy motor torpedo boats in international waters off the
coast of the Sinai Peninsula.
Key
Details of the Attack
Casualties: The assault resulted in 34 American deaths (31
sailors, two Marines, and one civilian NSA employee) and 171 injuries.
The Engagement:
The ship was first strafed by Israeli Mirage III and Mystère
IV jets using machine guns, rockets, and napalm.
Following the air strikes, three Israeli torpedo boats
attacked; one torpedo struck the ship's starboard side, blowing a 39-foot-wide
hole and killing dozens of men in the intelligence spaces.
Survivors reported that Israeli forces also machine-gunned
life rafts deployed in the water, a violation of international law.
Ship Status: Despite being severely damaged and nearly
sinking, the crew managed to keep the Liberty afloat. It was later
decommissioned and sold for scrap in 1973.
Official Explanations and Controversies
Israeli Position: Israel formally apologized, claiming the
attack was a "tragic mistake" caused by misidentifying the Liberty as
the Egyptian naval transport El Quseir.
U.S. Response: The United States officially accepted the
apology, and Israel eventually paid nearly $13 million in compensation to the
victims' families and for ship damage.
Persistent Controversy: Many survivors and high-ranking U.S.
officials (including former Secretary of State Dean Rusk and former Joint
Chiefs Chairman Admiral Thomas Moorer) maintained the attack was deliberate.
Proponents of this view argue the ship was clearly marked with hull numbers
(GTR-5) and was flying a large American flag in clear weather.
Theories on Motive: Some suggest Israel attacked to prevent
the U.S. from intercepting communications related to the upcoming invasion of
the Golan Heights or to hide alleged war crimes.
Recognition
The ship's commander, William L. McGonagle, received the
Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the attack, though unusually, the
award ceremony was held at the Washington Navy Yard rather than the White House
to avoid diplomatic tension with Israel.
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