The United States claimed its rights to conduct Freedom of Navigation (FON) naval operations in international waters, a standard of 12-nautical-mile (22 km; 14 mi) territorial limit from a country's shore.

Tensions between the United States and Libya heightened after the hijacking of TWA Flight 847 on 14 June 1985, and the Rome and Vienna airport attacks on 27 December that same year.

The United States claimed that the Libyan leader was involved in these actions through his support of the alleged perpetrator, Palestinian terrorist Abu Nidal.

At the same time, Libya began the installation of SA-5 Gammon surface-to-air missile batteries and radars they received from the Soviet Union in late 1985, to bolster their air defense.

As the United States Navy had done for several years, they challenged Libya's claim to the Gulf of Sidra by crossing the so-called "Line of Death".

By crossing the "Line of Death", American forces were asserting their right to keep international sea lanes open and "conduct naval and air exercises in every part of the globe."

During the operations held in January and February 1986, the United States Navy made 130 intercepts of Libyan fighters in the airspace over the Gulf of Sidra, although neither side opened fire.

The F-14 wing leader alleged "excessive hostile actions and intentions", which led the air warfare commander aboard USS Saratoga to give the pilots the signal "warning yellow, weapons hold".

The F-14s moved into a six o'clock position behind the hostile MiGs, locked on to them with radar and acquired AIM-9 Sidewinder tones, which meant they were ready to shoot the Libyans down.

When one of the patrol boats locked on to American aircraft with its fire-control radar, USS Richmond K. Turner, a Leahy-class destroyer leader who had been serving as anti-aircraft radar picket ship defending the carrier group's right flank responded by firing an RGM-84 Harpoon missile, striking the vessel and setting it ablaze.

The first air strikes occurred around 19:26 (CET) when two A-6E TRAM Intruders from VA-34 found the French-built Beir Grassa-class patrol boat Waheed.

[11] Forty minutes later, F-14As, F/A-18As, A-7Es and EA-6Bs headed towards the SA-5 site near Surt at low level and suddenly climbed, which caused the Libyans to activate their radars and launch missiles at the incoming aircraft.