Three US F-15E Jets Lost Over Kuwait in Apparent Friendly Fire Incident
On Sunday evening, three US F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets were shot down over Kuwait by Kuwaiti air defenses in what US Central Command (CENTCOM) described as an apparent friendly fire incident. The incident, reported on Monday, resulted in all six crew members safely ejecting and being recovered in stable condition. The jets were conducting a combat mission during ongoing military operations in the region.
Incident Details and Crew Recovery
The incident occurred while the US F-15E Strike Eagle jets were operating as part of "Operation Epic Fury," a military operation primarily targeting Iran. The crashes took place over Kuwait, specifically near Kuwait City in the Al Jahra area, west of the city.
Visual evidence included video footage showing one jet falling in a tailspin within 10 kilometers of the US Ali Al Salem air base in Kuwait. Other videos depicted a pilot parachuting to the ground approximately 30 kilometers from the base and receiving assistance from Kuwaiti citizens.
All six crew members aboard the three aircraft successfully ejected. They were safely recovered by Kuwaiti defense forces and transferred to a hospital for assessment, where they were reported to be in stable condition after receiving necessary medical care. Each F-15E fighter jet is valued at tens of millions of dollars.
Official Confirmations and Ongoing Investigations
CENTCOM confirmed the loss of the three F-15Es, stating the incident was not caused by hostile enemy fire and was under investigation.
"The incident was not caused by hostile enemy fire and was under investigation." — US Central Command
Kuwait's defense ministry acknowledged the crash of "several" US fighter jets and initiated its own investigation. Colonel Said Al-Atwan, spokesperson for Kuwait's defense ministry, confirmed the search-and-rescue operations and indicated direct coordination with US authorities.
General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also confirmed the loss of the aircraft. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not issue a statement regarding the incident. Separately, Iran's state media, citing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, claimed responsibility for hitting a US plane that crashed in Kuwait.
Regional Tensions and Broader Conflict
The friendly fire incident occurred on the third day of a broader conflict that followed US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran. This wider conflict has involved attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones, which CENTCOM reported impacted civilian areas and military bases, including RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.
CENTCOM has stated that it struck over 1,000 targets, focusing on military objectives such as command and control centers, Iranian Navy vessels, and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps headquarters. The US military maintains significant assets in the region, which had been deployed in the preceding weeks for a joint US-Israeli military operation.
In the broader context of this conflict, four US service members have been killed and five wounded.
Prior to the news of the jet incident, Kuwait had condemned Iran's "indiscriminate and reckless attacks," describing them as a "dangerous escalation" and a threat to regional stability. In separate developments, smoke was observed near the US Embassy in Kuwait City, and the Turkish transport ministry suspended all flights from Turkey to Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates. A previous incident in 2024 involved a US ship mistakenly firing upon an F/A-18 in the Red Sea.