59 years ago at least 34 US sailors were killed and 171 others were wounded in an Israeli attack on the USS Liberty [View all]

Last edited Mon Jun 8, 2026, 02:15 PM - Edit history (1)

On June 8, 1967, at least 34 US sailors were killed and 171 others were wounded in an Israeli attack on the USS Liberty, a United States Navy technical research ship stationed in the Mediterranean Sea off Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.

Israel claimed it was a case of mistaken identity, saying its naval forces thought the vessel was Egyptian. But some of the survivors and researchers have disputed the Israeli version of the incident. They lament that successive governments did little to bring out the truth behind one of the deadliest attacks on the US Navy by its closest ally, Israel.

This year, the attack has come under renewed attention after US Representative Thomas Massie announced he would deliver a speech on the floor of the House of Representatives to honour and memorialise the crew of the USS Liberty.

So what do we know about one of the most controversial chapters of the US Navy?

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/6/8/why-was-israel-spared-scrutiny-for-the-1967-uss-liberty-attack

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