On July 3, a harrowing incident unfolded in the Persian Gulf when the United States Navy guided missile cruiser USS Vincennes discharged missiles that downed Iran Air Flight 655, resulting in the deaths of all 290 individuals aboard, including 66 children. The flight was operating from Tehran to Dubai, carrying civilians unaware of the escalating military tensions in the region. The USS Vincennes was actively involved in engagements in the Gulf due to the ongoing Iran-Iraq War, a conflict that had seen numerous military and civilian casualties. The ship, believing it was under threat, mistook the Airbus A300 for an attacking F-14 fighter jet, which ultimately led to the catastrophic decision to fire upon the airliner.

In the moments leading to the downing, the Vincennes' crew mismanaged crucial identification protocols, primarily revolving around communication with air traffic control. They failed to confirm that the aircraft in their sights was a civilian plane, despite it being well-known that commercial flights were operating in the airspace. This incident drew significant media attention and prompted outrage from the Iranian government and the global community. An immediate investigation followed the tragedy to ascertain the chain of events that led to the misidentification and subsequent strike. The U.S. military stated that the engagement was a result of self-defense and that the warship had acted under the belief it was targeted.