Three U.S. fighter jets were unintentionally brought down over Kuwait early Monday in what officials described as a “friendly fire” episode. All six crew members ejected and survived.
U.S. Central Command (Centcom) said Kuwait’s air‑defence system opened fire on the F‑15 aircraft during a combat sortie on the third day of hostilities that followed Saturday’s U.S.–Israeli air strikes on Iran.
The ejected crew members were retrieved and are listed as “stable,” Centcom added.
“During active combat – which included attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles and drones – U.S. Air Force fighters were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses,” the statement read.
Kuwait confirmed the mishap and said an inquiry has been launched.
Centcom’s post on X noted that the incident occurred at 11:03 p.m. ET on Sunday and involved three F‑15E Strike Eagle jets.
Footage showed one of the aircraft descending in the Kuwaiti sky, with a parachuting figure visible. Reuters identified the location as the Al Jahra region of Kuwait.
Another video clip appears to show a pilot, dressed in a flight suit and holding what looks like breathing gear, seated in the back of a vehicle. The caption said the individual was “being cared for by a group of Kuwaitis.”
Iranian state media, citing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported that Iran’s armed forces claimed responsibility for striking a U.S. plane that crashed in Kuwait, Reuters said.
The episode underscores the disorder surrounding the conflict that began Saturday when President Donald Trump, without congressional approval, ordered a U.S. air campaign against Iran that the White House named Operation Epic Fury.
Turkey’s transport ministry announced on Monday that it had halted all flights from the country to Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
Iran responded to the attack by launching missiles across the Middle East, some landing in civilian zones such as hotels and residential districts. It also targeted regional military installations used by the United States and its allies, including a drone strike on RAF Akrotiri, a British base in Cyprus.
On Sunday, Centcom confirmed three U.S. service members had been killed and five wounded in the fighting. On Monday, officials raised the death count to four.
Kuwait issued a statement Monday condemning what it called “indiscriminate and reckless missile and drone attacks against sovereign territories throughout the region.” The statement, released before news of the U.S. jet losses, added: “Iran’s actions represent a dangerous escalation that violates the sovereignty of multiple states and threatens regional stability. Targeting civilians and non‑combatant states is reckless behavior that undermines stability.”
In a separate report from Reuters on Monday, smoke was observed rising near the U.S. Embassy.
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