The World - News from Jan. 7, 1987

Pentagon officials are having trouble establishing the identity of a merchant ship that fired a missile at a Navy helicopter over the Persian Gulf. Officials, who asked not to be identified, said U.S. military representatives visited Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates to look for the mystery vessel but failed to make a positive identification. In an interview, Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger said he was concerned but not surprised by the attack. “I think it’s likely that merchant ships (in the area) will be armed,” Weinberger said. “I don’t know but what it won’t become a condition of insurance pretty soon.”