Earnest Will (translated - “Sincere intentions” or “Firm intentions” ) is the code name for the operation of the US Navy to escort Kuwaiti tankers in the Persian Gulf during the Iran-Iraq war . The largest naval convoy operation after the Second World War .
During the fighting between Iran and Iraq, both sides since 1984 began to actively attack the tankers of third countries transporting enemy oil . The purpose of these actions was to disrupt the transportation of oil and thereby strike a blow at the enemy’s economy. As a result of the actions of both parties, shipping in the Persian Gulf was at great risk.
In late 1986, Kuwait appealed to the superpowers to protect Kuwaiti tankers from ongoing attacks. The United States initially ignored this request, but changed its position after the Soviet Union provided Kuwait with several of its tankers. Additional forces of the US Navy were sent to the Persian Gulf, which from July 24, 1987 began to escort tankers, which was the beginning of Operation Earnest Will.
During the operation, a number of incidents and confrontations took place, including:
- the Iran Air ship incident;
- Operation Nimble Archer against Iranian oil platforms;
- undermining on a mine of the American frigate "Samuel B. Roberts";
- Operation Praying Mantis ;
- the incident with the downing of an Iranian passenger plane .
The Iran-Iraq war ended in August 1988 , and on September 26, American ships escorted a tanker in the Persian Gulf for the last time.