Thirty-nine years ago today, on March 24, 1986 (February 15, 1986 lunar calendar), Libya triggered a military conflict with the United States. On March 24, 1986, Libya fired 12 missiles at American aircraft, shooting down 3 American aircraft on the grounds that the American fleet had invaded its territorial waters, triggering a military conflict between the two countries. This is a file photo of a Soviet-made SA-5 surface-to-air missile fired by Libya at an American aircraft.