May 17, 1987: The USS Stark FFG-31 was accidentally attacked by an Iraqi aircraft. The Stark was escorting
Kuwaiti tankers off the coast of Bahrain and was in international waters at the time of the attack. The Iraqi
pilot fired two French made Exocet missiles at the Stark which killed 37 men and injured a further 21. Iraq later
apologized for the attack and offered compensation to the United States. The Captain of the Stark was censured for failing to respond more rapidly to the attack.
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