Three U.S. fighter jets were shot down over Kuwait in what American officials described as an apparent friendly fire incident during active combat operations linked to the war involving Iran.
U.S. Central Command said Kuwaiti air defenses mistakenly targeted the American F-15 aircraft as they operated in a high-threat environment that included attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles and drones. The jets went down over Kuwaiti territory.
All six aircrew members aboard the three aircraft ejected safely, were recovered and are reported to be in stable condition. U.S. officials said the circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation and that additional details would be released as they become available.
Earlier reports had indicated that several American warplanes had crashed in Kuwait, though the cause was initially unclear. The confirmation that the aircraft were downed by allied defenses underscores the complexity and volatility of the expanding conflict.
The incident occurred as regional tensions intensified following a series of Iranian strikes across multiple Gulf states. In a joint statement, the United States and six allied nations — Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates — condemned what they described as indiscriminate and reckless attacks by Iran across the region.
According to the statement, Iranian operations targeted sovereign territories, endangered civilians and damaged civilian infrastructure. Reported strike locations included Bahrain, Iraq — including the Kurdistan region — Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The allied governments characterized the attacks as a dangerous escalation that violated national sovereignty and threatened broader regional stability. They reaffirmed their right to self-defense and cited coordinated air and missile defense efforts that they said helped prevent greater loss of life and destruction.
The downing of the U.S. aircraft highlights the strain on air defense systems operating in a fast-moving battlefield environment marked by missile launches, drone incursions and aerial engagements. Military analysts note that in such conditions, identification challenges and split-second decisions can increase the risk of friendly fire incidents.
Kuwait has long hosted U.S. military forces and serves as a strategic hub for American operations in the Middle East. The friendly fire episode is likely to prompt a review of coordination protocols between U.S. and regional air defense systems.
Source: The Guardian