It is not known for sure what the actual intent was for the Libyan aircraft on 4 January. Gaddafi could have believed the U.S. was preparing for an attack on the chemical facility in Rabta and ordered his military to see if the aircraft offshore were bombers bound for targets in Libya. The possible reasons for the MiG-23s' flight profile range from a deliberate attack against the battle group to a radio breakdown with ground controllers which led to the Libyan fighters merging with the F-14s.