just some background information...
So, those first attacks are attacks because Arrgh is a free range pirate nation, which means that we are allowed to attack them with no reason. Same as they are allowed to attack us for no reason.
I, however, declared war on tel-Aviv-yafo for his chunky bounty. They then grabbed their friends to save his butt, destroying me. Milcom sees it, and decides to counter it since they were organized by Tel-Aviv-Yafo, and not Arrgh. War reasons didn't even say 'Arrgh Counter'.