Kuwaiti air defenses shot down three U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets operating in support of Operation Epic Fury, in what the United States Central Command has described as an apparent friendly fire incident.
According to the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) public statement:
“At 11:03 p.m. ET, March 1, three U.S. F-15E Strike Eagles flying in support of Operation Epic Fury went down over Kuwait due to an apparent friendly fire incident.
During active combat—that included attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones — the U.S. Air Force fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses.
All six aircrew ejected safely, have been safely recovered, and are in stable condition. Kuwait has acknowledged this incident, and we are grateful for the efforts of the Kuwaiti defense forces and their support in this ongoing operation.
The cause of the incident is under investigation. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.”
Videos that emerged online on the morning of March 2 appear to show an F-15 being struck by surface-to-air fire. The aircraft is seen catching fire and entering an uncontrolled spin before the crew ejects. The jet continues descending in a flat spin before impacting the ground.
Subsequent images circulating online showed at least three aircrew members on the ground, reportedly surrounded by Kuwaiti civilians. The presence of more than two crew members initially fueled speculation that more than one aircraft had been lost — consistent with CENTCOM’s later confirmation that three F-15Es were downed.
The shootdowns occurred amid a significant escalation in hostilities across the region. Iran has reportedly launched hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones targeting countries hosting U.S. forces, including Kuwait, Jordan, Qatar, and the UAE. Many of these threats have been intercepted by both airborne assets and ground-based air defense systems.
CENTCOM has confirmed that the incident is under formal investigation. Determining the exact sequence of events — including identification procedures, rules of engagement, system performance, and communications between U.S. and Kuwaiti forces — will be critical in preventing recurrence.
