Atlas of Battles

battle, notable, Cold War

Gulf of Sidra incident

Gulf of Sidra incident was a battle fought on 4 January 1989 at Mediterranean Sea. It was part of the Cold War, which ran from 1945 to 1991. The recorded result: U.S. victory; Two Libyan MiG-23ML fighters shot down. Recorded strength: 2 F-14A Tomcats; 1 E-2C Hawkeye against 2 MiG-23ML.

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The lead F-14 has just destroyed the last MiG-23 with an AIM-9 Sidewinder. This screenshot is taken from the "F-14 - Libyan MiG-23 Engagement" during the Second Gulf of Sidra incident
The lead F-14 has just destroyed the last MiG-23 with an AIM-9 Sidewinder. This screenshot is taken from the "F-14 - Libyan MiG-23 Engagement" during the Second Gulf of Sidra incident. Fighter Squadron 32, United States Navy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought4 January 1989
WhereMediterranean Sea33.500N, 23.400E
OutcomeU.S. victory; Two Libyan MiG-23ML fighters shot down
BelligerentsUnited StatesagainstLibya
Casualties and lossesNoneand2 pilots missing; 2 MiG-23ML destroyed
Part ofCold War1945 to 1991

Record

Date4 January 1989
PlaceMediterranean Sea
33.500N, 23.400E
KindBattle, Cold War
Strength2 F-14A Tomcats; 1 E-2C Hawkeye2 MiG-23ML
Casualties and lossesNone2 pilots missing; 2 MiG-23ML destroyed
Commanders
  • Ronald Reagan
  • Muammar Gaddafi
Gulf of Sidra incidentGulf of Sidra incidentBattle of DernaBattle of DernaBattle of DernaBattle of Derna100 km33.500N, 23.400E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1989

Gulf of Sidra incident is one of 2,997 engagements of the 20th century in the atlas.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q2603955, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article 1989 air battle near Tobruk, revision 1371960731, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.