Operation Earnest Will was the protection of Kuwaiti oil tankers by the U.S. Navy from Iranian attacks in 1987 and 1988 during the Iran-Iraq War. To provide a legal justification for using American naval forces to protect the civilian vessels, the Kuwaiti ships were reregistered under U.S. flag. It was the largest convoy operation since World War II.

On 14 April 1988, the American frigate Samuel B. Roberts struck an Iranian mine and was badly damaged. Four days later, U.S. forces retaliated with a one-day attack on Iranian warships, armed speedboats, and oil platforms used as naval bases. Dubbed Operation Praying Mantis, it was the biggest engagement of surface warships since World War II.