The United States military has confirmed that three of its fighter aircraft were downed over Kuwait during ongoing combat operations linked to the latest conflict involving Iran. Officials described the incident as an apparent “friendly fire” event, but confirmed that all crew members survived and are in stable condition.
Three F-15E Fighter Jets Downed Over Kuwait
US Central Command announced that three F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft went down late Sunday night at around 11:01 p.m. ET. The jets were flying in support of Operation Epic Fury when the incident occurred.
According to officials, the aircraft were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defence systems during active combat operations. The situation reportedly involved incoming threats from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles and drones at the time.
All six crew members on board the three jets safely ejected and were later recovered. Authorities confirmed that they are now in stable condition.
Incident Under Investigation
The Pentagon stated that the cause of the friendly fire incident is under investigation. Further details will be released once more information becomes available.
Kuwait has acknowledged the incident, and US officials expressed gratitude to Kuwaiti defence forces for their cooperation and continued support during the operation.
Earlier, the Kuwaiti Army had reported that several US military aircraft crashed but did not initially provide a reason.
Social Media Footage Surfaces
Videos shared on social media appeared to show a fighter jet resembling an F-15E Strike Eagle falling in a tailspin before crashing. Other clips showed parachutes descending, likely from crew members ejecting.
The footage reportedly matches the area near Al Jahra, on the western outskirts of Kuwait City. This location is roughly six miles from Ali Al Salem US Air Base, which has been actively responding to missile and drone attacks in recent days.
Some videos also showed uniformed personnel interacting with civilians and what appeared to be a pilot sitting in the back of a civilian vehicle. However, the footage has not been independently verified.
About the F-15E Strike Eagle
The F-15E Strike Eagle is a twin-seat fighter jet designed for both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat missions. It is typically operated by:
- One pilot
- One weapons systems officer
The US Air Force operates more than 400 F-15 aircraft. These jets have been used in multiple combat missions since the Gulf War and are considered battle-proven multirole fighters.
Although US Central Command listed several aircraft involved in the current operations — including B-2 stealth bombers, F-18, F-16, F-22, A-10 and F-35 jets — it had not specifically mentioned F-15 variants before this incident.
Previous Friendly Fire Incidents
Friendly fire incidents, while rare, have occurred in past military operations. In 2024, a US Navy warship mistakenly fired missiles at two American F/A-18 jets over the Red Sea. In that case, the pilots ejected safely, and investigators later determined the crew had misidentified the aircraft as enemy threats.
Such incidents often happen in fast-moving and high-pressure combat environments where multiple threats are present.
Wider Conflict and Casualties
The aircraft losses come amid escalating military action between the United States, Israel and Iran. Over the weekend, US and Israeli forces launched large-scale strikes against Iran, targeting more than 2,000 sites.
The US military has also confirmed that three American service members were killed and five others seriously injured during recent operations.
President Donald Trump acknowledged the losses and warned that more casualties may occur as the conflict continues.
