Three US F-15E jets shot down in 'friendly fire' incident by Kuwait as Iran war escalates
Three US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets were shot down in separate friendly-fire incidents by Kuwaiti air defences, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Monday evening.
“All six aircrew (two per aircraft) ejected safely, have been recovered, and are in stable condition,” CENTCOM said in a statement, adding that Kuwait has acknowledged the incident.
“We are grateful for the efforts of the Kuwaiti defence forces and their support in this ongoing operation.”
At 11:03 p.m. ET, March 1, three U.S. F-15E Strike Eagles flying in support of Operation Epic Fury went down over Kuwait due to an apparent friendly fire incident.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 2, 2026
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Kuwait earlier said that “several US military aircraft had crashed” without providing details.
Videos circulating widely on social media showed one of the F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft spiralling out of the sky with flames trailing from its rear before both pilots ejected moments later.
The incidents come amid a rapidly escalating conflict in West Asia following coordinated US-Israel missile strikes on Iranian military and regime targets over the weekend.
Iran responded with a barrage of missiles and armed drones targeting Tel Aviv, US military bases across the region, and critical energy infrastructure.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on the first day of the conflict, plunging the country into political uncertainty and triggering fears of a wider regional war.
Explosions were heard on Monday across several Gulf cities as Tehran intensified its retaliation. An AFP journalist reported blasts in Jerusalem after the Israeli military said it had detected missiles launched from Iran and activated air-raid sirens.
In Saudi Arabia, Saudi Aramco temporarily shut down its Ras Tanura oil refinery after Iranian drones struck the facility, raising fears of disruption to global energy supplies.
Iran-backed Hezbollah has also entered the conflict, further widening the scope of hostilities.
Civilian life across the region has been severely disrupted. Flights were suspended for several hours at Dubai, one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs, after airspace closures across the United Arab Emirates.
An Iranian missile strike damaged a luxury hotel in the city, while Tehran claimed a US-Israel attack hit a school in Iran’s Minab town, killing more than 160 people, including children.
The scale and intensity of attacks over the past 72 hours have surprised military observers, with fears mounting that the conflict could spiral into a full-scale regional war.
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