At 11:03 EST on March 2, during Operation Epic Fury, the new campaign launched against Iran, three U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles were shot down over Kuwait in a friendly-fire incident. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the event in a statement this morning, describing it as "apparent friendly fire" by the Kuwaiti Air Defense System. According to CENTCOM, the incident occurred during active combat operations that included attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones. All six aircrew members ejected safely and were recovered through joint U.S.-Kuwaiti search and rescue operations. All are reported to be in stable condition. CENTCOM also noted that Kuwait has acknowledged the incident, and expressed gratitude for their support during the ongoing operation.
Eyewitnesses and local media reported smoke rising in parts of Kuwait as the aircraft went down. Several videos have surfaced online capturing the incident in the Al Jahra area, including footage of one crew member successfully parachuting to safety after ejecting. This marks the first known loss of U.S. aircraft in the current region following Iranian retaliatory attacks.
Kuwait has long maintained a close partnership with U.S. forces, hosting American air and ground units and coordinating joint operations to maintain security in the Gulf. The recent friendly-fire incident underscores both the complexity of shared airspace and the ongoing collaboration between Kuwaiti and U.S. military personnel during the rapidly evolving conflict with Iran. This partnership has allowed for coordinated defense against missile and drone attacks targeting U.S. forces. The specific cause of the incident remains under investigation.
