SRINAGAR: Three American F-15E Strike Eagles were lost over Kuwait late Saturday night in what the United States Central Command described as an apparent friendly fire incident, deepening tensions amid the widening regional conflict linked to Operation Epic Fury.
In a statement posted at 11:03 p.m. ET on March 1, CENTCOM said the aircraft were flying in support of Operation Epic Fury when they went down over Kuwaiti territory. The command indicated that the incident appeared to involve friendly fire but did not immediately provide further operational details.
The crashes occurred near Ali Al Salem Air Base, a key installation used by US forces in Kuwait. Video geo-located by CNN reportedly showed a twin-engine jet spiraling in a tailspin before crashing within roughly 10 kilometers of the base. Additional footage circulating online appeared to show an F-15E trailing white smoke before descending west of Al Jahra. One video captured a crew member ejecting and descending safely by parachute.
The Kuwait Ministry of Defense confirmed that multiple American warplanes had crashed but stated that all crew members survived. In an official statement, the ministry said search and rescue operations were launched immediately, and the aircrews were evacuated and transferred to hospital for medical evaluation. Authorities described their condition as stable and said joint technical teams were coordinating with US forces to determine the cause of the incident.
Meanwhile, Iranian state television cited the Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters, Iran’s unified combat command, as claiming that an American F-15 fighter jet had been shot down near the Kuwaiti border by Iranian air defence systems. The claim followed earlier Iranian warnings that US military assets across the region were legitimate targets amid ongoing hostilities. There was no immediate confirmation from Washington supporting Iran’s assertion.
Air raid sirens were reported across Kuwait as tensions escalated during a third consecutive day of Iranian strikes across the Gulf region. The US Embassy in Kuwait issued an urgent advisory instructing American citizens to shelter in place and avoid approaching the embassy compound. The United States Department of State warned of a continuing threat of missile and unmanned aerial vehicle attacks over Kuwait, advising residents to remain indoors, on lower floors, and away from windows.
Kuwaiti authorities urged the public to rely only on official statements as inquiries proceed. Further updates are expected as both US and Kuwaiti military officials complete their technical assessments.
