USS Liberty incident

31°23′N 33°23′E  /  31.39°N 33.38°E  / 31.39; 33.38 generic The USS Liberty incident was an attack on a United States Navy technical research ship , USS Liberty , by Israeli Air Force jet fighter aircraft and motor torpedo boats , on 8 June 1967, during the Six-Day War . The combined air and sea attack killed 34 crew members (naval officers, seamen, two Marines, and one civilian), wounded 170 crew members, and severely damaged the ship. At the time, the ship was in international waters north of the Sinai Peninsula , about 25.5 nmi (29.3 mi; 47.2 km) northwest from the Egyptian city of Arish . Both the Israeli and U.S. governments conducted inquiries and issued reports that concluded the attack was a mistake due to Israeli confusion about the identity of the USS Liberty . Some survivors, in addition to some U.S. diplomats and intelligence officials involved in the incident continue to dispute these official findings, saying the Israeli attack on the USS Liberty was not a mistake, and it remains the only major maritime incident in U.S. history not to be investigated by the U.S. In May 1968, the Israeli government paid US$3,323,500 as full payment to the families of the 34 men killed in the attack. In March 1969, Israel paid a further $3,566,457 in compensation to the men who had been wounded. On 18 December 1980, it agreed to pay $6 million as settlement for the U.S. claim of $7,644,146 for material damage to the Liberty itself. On 17 December 1987, the issue was officially closed by the two governments through an exchange of diplomatic notes. Chicago Tribune . : Check date values in: |date= ( help ) Charles K. Brookings Institution . : Check date values in: |date= ( help ) NSA History Report William D.

McGonagle Strength 2 Mirage IIIs 2 Mystères 3 motor torpedo boats 1 Technical research ship Casualties and losses None 34 killed 171 wounded 1 ship heavily damaged Both nations officially attributed the attack by Israel as being due to mistaken identification. The USS Liberty incident was an attack on a United States Navy technical research ship , USS Liberty , by Israeli Air Force jet fighter aircraft and Israeli Navy motor torpedo boats , on 8 June 1967, during the Six-Day War . The combined air and sea attack killed 34 crew members (naval officers, seamen, two Marines , and one civilian), wounded 171 crew members, and severely damaged the ship. At the time, the ship was in international waters north of the Sinai Peninsula , about 25.5 nmi (29.3 mi; 47.2 km) northwest from the Egyptian city of Arish . Israel apologized for the attack, saying that the USS Liberty had been attacked in error after being mistaken for an Egyptian ship. Both the Israeli and U.S. governments conducted inquiries and issued reports that concluded the attack was a mistake due to Israeli confusion about the ship's identity, though others, including survivors of the attack, have rejected these conclusions and maintain that the attack was deliberate. In May 1968, the Israeli government paid US$3,323,500 (US$30.8 million 2026) in compensation to the families of the 34 men killed in the attack. In March 1969, Israel paid a further $3,566,457 to the men who had been wounded. On 18 December 1980, it agreed to pay $6 million as settlement for the final U.S. bill of $17,132,709 for material damage to the Liberty herself plus 13 years' interest.

McGonagle Strength 2 Mirage IIIs 2 Mystère IVs 3 motor torpedo boats 1 Technical research ship Casualties and losses None 34 killed 171 wounded 1 ship heavily damaged The USS Liberty incident was an attack on a United States Navy technical research ship , USS Liberty , by Israeli Air Force jet fighter aircraft and Israeli Navy motor torpedo boats , on 8 June 1967, during the Six-Day War . The combined air and sea attack killed 34 crew members (naval officers, seamen, two marines, and one civilian), wounded 171 crew members, and severely damaged the ship. At the time, the ship was in international waters north of the Sinai Peninsula , about 25.5 nmi (29.3 mi; 47.2 km) northwest from the Egyptian city of Arish . Israel apologized for the attack, saying that the USS Liberty had been attacked in error after being mistaken for an Egyptian ship. Both the Israeli and U.S. governments conducted inquiries and issued reports that concluded the attack was a mistake due to Israeli confusion about the ship's identity. Others, including survivors of the attack, have rejected these conclusions and maintain that the attack was deliberate. In May 1968, the Israeli government paid US$3.32 million (equivalent to US$30.8 million in 2025) to the U.S. government in compensation for the families of the 34 men killed in the attack. In March 1969, Israel paid a further $3.57 million ($31.3 million in 2025) to the men who had been wounded. In December 1980, it agreed to pay $6 million ($23.4 million in 2025) as the final settlement for material damage to Liberty itself plus 13 years of interest.

McGonagle Strength 2 Mirage IIIs 2 Mystère IVs 3 motor torpedo boats 1 Technical research ship Casualties and losses None 34 killed 171 wounded 1 ship heavily damaged Location within Sinai Show map of Sinai USS Liberty incident (Egypt) Show map of Egypt The USS Liberty incident was an attack on a United States Navy technical research ship ( spy ship ), USS Liberty , by Israeli Air Force jet fighter aircraft and Israeli Navy motor torpedo boats , on 8 June 1967, during the Six-Day War . The combined air and sea attack killed 34 crew members (naval officers, seamen, two marines, and one civilian NSA employee), wounded 171 crew members, and severely damaged the ship. At the time, the ship was in international waters north of the Sinai Peninsula , about 25.5 nmi (29.3 mi; 47.2 km) northwest from the Egyptian city of Arish . Israel apologized for the attack, saying that the USS Liberty had been attacked in error after being mistaken for an Egyptian ship. Both the Israeli and U.S. governments conducted inquiries and issued reports that concluded the attack was a mistake due to Israeli confusion about the ship's identity. Others, including survivors of the attack, have rejected these conclusions and maintain that the attack was deliberate. In May 1968, the Israeli government paid US$3.32 million (equivalent to US$30.8 million in 2025) to the U.S. government in compensation for the families of the 34 men killed in the attack. In March 1969, Israel paid a further $3.57 million ($31.3 million in 2025) to the men who had been wounded. In December 1980, it agreed to pay $6 million ($23.4 million in 2025) as the final settlement for material damage to the ship plus 13 years of interest. " 'But sir, it's an American ship.' 'Never mind, hit her!' When Israel attacked USS Liberty " .

McGonagle Strength 2 Mirage IIIs 2 Mystère IVs 3 motor torpedo boats 1 technical research ship Casualties and losses None 34 killed 171 wounded 1 ship heavily damaged Location within Sinai Show map of Sinai USS Liberty incident (Egypt) Show map of Egypt The USS Liberty incident was an attack on a United States Navy technical research ship (a spy ship ), USS Liberty , by Israeli Air Force jet fighter aircraft and Israeli Navy motor torpedo boats , on 8 June 1967 , during the Six-Day War . The combined air and sea attack killed 34 crew members (naval officers, seamen, two marines, and one civilian NSA employee), wounded 171 crew members, and severely damaged the ship. At the time, the ship was in international waters north of the Sinai Peninsula , about 25.5 nautical miles (47.2 km; 29.3 mi) northwest from the Egyptian city of Arish . Israel apologized for the attack, saying that USS Liberty had been attacked in error after being mistaken for an Egyptian ship. Both the Israeli and United States governments conducted inquiries and issued reports that concluded the attack was a mistake due to Israeli confusion about the ship's identity. Others, including survivors of the attack, have rejected these conclusions and maintain that the attack was deliberate. Thomas Hinman Moorer , the 7th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , accused President Lyndon B. Johnson of having covered up that the attack was a deliberate act. In May 1968, the Israeli government paid US$3.32 million (equivalent to US$30.8 million in 2025) to the U.S. government in compensation for the families of the 34 men killed in the attack. In March 1969, Israel paid a further $3.57 million ($31.3 million in 2025) to the men who had been wounded. In December 1980, it agreed to pay $6 million ($23.4 million in 2025) as the final settlement for material damage to the ship plus 13 years of interest. " 'But sir, it's an American ship.' 'Never mind, hit her!' When Israel attacked USS Liberty " .