The crashes, which include a US F-15 fighter jet, comes as Iran has launched waves of missile and drone attacks in retaliation to the US-Israel strikes. Three F-15E “Strike Eagle” fighter jets were shot down in separate incidents by Kuwaiti air defences in what’s known in military circles as friendly fire — mistakes, essentially — the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed on Monday evening. According to CENTCOM, the aircraft were “mistakenly shot down” by Kuwaiti forces during operations.
“All six aircrew members, two on each plane, ejected safely, have been recovered, and are in stable condition. Kuwait has acknowledged the incident, and we appreciate the efforts of the Kuwaiti defence forces and their support in this ongoing operation,” CENTCOM said in a statement. Earlier on Monday, Iran state media posted a video showing a US fighter jet crashing in Kuwait.
Footage circulated by Iranian outlet Press TV appears to show a US F-15E Strike Eagle spiralling downward before impact, followed by clips of pilots ejecting and landing with parachutes over desert terrain. Additional social media posts show at least one pilot on the ground after ejecting. Independent verification of the footage and details of the crash have not yet been provided by either US or Kuwaiti authorities. The jet reportedly went down in Kuwaiti airspace amid intense military activity in the Gulf region.
The crash comes as Iran has launched waves of missile and drone attacks targeting US forces and allied locations following coordinated US-Israeli strikes on Iranian military infrastructure and leadership targets. The ongoing confrontation has already resulted in casualties, and both sides continue military operations.
In a related development, smoke was seen rising near the United States Embassy in Kuwait City, with emergency services, including firefighters and ambulances, responding to the scene, though details on the cause of the smoke or whether the embassy compound was directly hit have not been confirmed. Witnesses reported that the embassy has issued urgent security alerts advising US citizens to shelter in place and avoid outdoor movement amid continued threats of missile and drone attacks, and that personnel at the mission were sheltering indoors as a precaution.
The current conflict between the United States and Iran erupted after coordinated US and Israeli military strikes on Iranian soil, aimed at crippling Tehran’s missile and military infrastructure. The initial operation killed senior Iranian leadership, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, prompting Tehran to launch widespread retaliatory drone and missile attacks against US assets, regional capitals and allied forces across the Gulf.
Iran’s reprisal strikes have reached across multiple countries, with missiles and drones intercepted over Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, triggering closures of airspace and causing both military and civilian casualties. The escalation has seen US forces respond with counter-strikes, including naval actions, marking one of the most intensive confrontations between the two powers in decades.
