Three US F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets were shot down over Kuwait early Monday in what the US central command described as a friendly fire incident, but all six crew members ejected safely and are in stable condition.
“At 11.03 pm ET, March 1, three US F-15E Strike Eagles flying in support of Operation Epic Fury went down over Kuwait due to an apparent friendly fire incident,” US central command said in a statement.
“All six aircrew ejected safely, have been safely recovered, and are in stable condition. Kuwait has acknowledged this incident, and we are grateful for the efforts of the Kuwaiti defense forces and their support in this ongoing operation.
The cause of the incident is under investigation. Additional information will be released as it becomes available. ”
Kuwait’s ministry of defence said the crews were evacuated and transferred to hospital and confirmed that the response was coordinated with US forces, reported Reuters.
The incident occurred amid active combat in the region, which included attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones, marking the third consecutive day of Iranian retaliatory strikes on neighbouring Gulf states following US and Israeli attacks on Iran.
Kuwait also intercepted hostile drones earlier on Monday.
Separately, smoke was seen rising from the vicinity of the US embassy compound in Kuwait City, with fire trucks and ambulances deployed, a witness told Reuters.
There was no immediate response to requests for comment from the US embassy or the US state department regarding the embassy incident.
Iran’s state media, citing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, claimed that Iranian forces had hit a US plane that crashed in Kuwait. Multiple videos are circulating on social media, showing a military aircraft falling in the Al Jahra area, with a person seen parachuting in the same frame.
The friendly fire mishap reflects the complex and volatile situation in the Gulf amid escalating US-Iran tensions.
