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Except the Soviets had visual confirmation of the target

Vincennes did not (which to be fair should have done - and not excusing their actions here)



That's a good point, why didn't they seek visual confirmation first?


They probably would have, if they would have had the capability.


Another US ship was attacked by Iraqi Exocet missiles beyond visual range on the same region just one year before. US had also attacked Iran assets in the year before after one US ship was damaged by Iranian mines. Tensions were very high.


>US had also attacked Iran assets in the year before after one US ship was damaged by Iranian mines.

Wasn't this in Iranian territorial waters. I don't quite see how that held up as a justification for the retaliations.


> Wasn't this in Iranian territorial waters.

In case anyone is curious, the topic of discussion appears to be https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Samuel_B._Roberts_(FFG-58)...

All sources appear to indicate that the mine was in international waters.




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