United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has confirmed that three U.S. Air Force F‑15E Strike Eagle fighter jets were mistakenly downed by Kuwaiti air defence systems during intense combat operations over Kuwaiti airspace, describing the event as a “friendly fire” incident amid the wider Middle East conflict.
Gatekeepers News reports that CENTCOM said the jets were flying in support of the ongoing military campaign against Iran, part of a broader offensive involving both U.S. and Israeli forces, when they were misidentified and engaged by Kuwait’s surface‑to‑air defences. The situation erupted as Iranian forces launched ballistic missiles, drones, and aircraft into Gulf airspace in retaliation for earlier strikes.
All six aircrew members aboard the three F‑15E fighters ejected safely and were recovered, with U.S. military officials describing their condition as stable. Kuwait has acknowledged the mistake and is cooperating with U.S. forces in an ongoing investigation into how the incident occurred, CENTCOM added.
The episode underscores how rapidly the conflict has expanded and how challenging it has become to manage complex aerial operations in congested airspace. Initial reports and social media footage showed one of the aircraft falling in flames over Kuwait and a pilot descending by parachute, while Iran’s state media attempted to claim responsibility for shooting down at least one of the jets, though those assertions have not been verified independently.
The downing of U.S. aircraft, seemingly by an allied nation’s air defences, marks one of the most significant tactical losses for U.S. forces since the escalation began, raising new questions about coordination among allied militaries operating in the region.
Officials say they will release more details as the investigation continues.
