The USS Liberty Incident (1967)
The Facts:
On June 8, 1967, during the Six-Day War, Israeli fighter jets and torpedo boats attacked the USS Liberty, a U.S. Navy intelligence ship, in international waters off the Sinai Peninsula. The attack killed 34 U.S. crew members and wounded 171.
The Official Investigations and Ongoing Controversy:
- U.S. Government (Multiple Inquiries): Official U.S. investigations, including a naval court of inquiry and a CIA report, ultimately concluded the attack was a case of “mistaken identity” amid the fog of war. They accepted Israel’s explanation that it believed the ship was Egyptian.
- Israeli Government: Israel apologized, calling the attack a “tragic mistake” and paid reparations to the victims and their families.
- The Dissenting View (Survivors and Some Officials): Many survivors, high-ranking U.S. intelligence officials, and members of Congress have publicly and persistently rejected the “accident” conclusion for decades. Their allegations include:
- The attack was deliberate.
- Israeli forces jammed American distress frequencies.
- There was a cover-up by both governments to preserve the strategic alliance.
Sources:
- Official Conclusion: The National Security Agency (NSA) and U.S. Navy History and Heritage Command house declassified documents supporting the friendly fire conclusion.
- Source: NSA – USS Liberty Incident
- Critics’ Perspective: The book The Attack on the Liberty by James Scott (Simon & Schuster, 2009) and the documentary The Attack on the Liberty (2007) present the case for a deliberate attack, featuring interviews with survivors and officials.