Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Three U.S. Air Force fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses during a high-intensity regional confrontation involving Iranian attacks, according to a statement released Monday by U.S. Central Command.
CENTCOM said the incident involved three F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft that were operating over Kuwait while defending against what officials described as incoming Iranian aircraft, missiles and drones. The U.S. military emphasized that all six aircrew members aboard the jets ejected safely and were quickly recovered.
“All six aircrew ejected safely, have been safely recovered and are in stable condition,” the command said in its statement.
Kuwait has formally acknowledged the incident, CENTCOM added, expressing appreciation for the cooperation and support provided by Kuwaiti defense forces during the ongoing military operation. Officials did not indicate whether the downing occurred during a specific wave of Iranian attacks but confirmed the aircraft were engaged in defensive actions at the time.
The friendly-fire episode comes amid heightened regional tensions and complex multi-domain operations involving allied air defenses and U.S. forces operating in close proximity. Military analysts note that such incidents, while rare, can occur in fast-moving combat environments where multiple air defense systems and aircraft are operating simultaneously.
CENTCOM said the cause of the incident remains under investigation and promised that additional details will be released as more information becomes available.
No further operational details or damage assessments were immediately provided.
