A Kuwaiti fighter jet mistakenly shot down three American F-15E Strike Eagles over Kuwait on Monday, US officials confirmed. The incident marked the first American aircraft loss since Operation Epic Fury began on February 28.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, a Kuwaiti F/A-18 Hornet pilot launched three missiles at the US jets during active combat. The fighters crashed inside Kuwaiti territory. All crew members ejected safely and survived.
US Central Command said Iranian drones, missiles, and aircraft were attacking at the time. One Iranian drone struck a base earlier, killing six US soldiers at Shuaiba port. Kuwaiti forces remained on high alert when the friendly fire occurred.
Iran claimed it shot down the aircraft as tensions escalated across the Gulf. The conflict intensified after a joint US-Israeli strike killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran then launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks across the region.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine confirmed the loss. He stated the jets were not destroyed by enemy fire. Military officials continue to investigate the circumstances.
A former US Air Force pilot called the incident perplexing. He noted that pilots rely on Identification Friend or Foe systems to prevent such mistakes.
