Three F-15Es Down Over Kuwait From Friendly Fire

On the third day of Operation Epic Fury, three US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles were shot down over Kuwait by Kuwaiti air defenses in a friendly fire incident that US Central Command confirmed Monday. All six crew members ejected safely and were recovered in stable condition.

The incident occurred at 11:03 p.m. ET Sunday during an active Iranian assault involving aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones targeting American and allied positions across the region. Kuwait’s air defense network, operating in support of US combat operations, fired on the American jets during the exchange.

Witnesses watched a pilot parachute to the ground, initially assuming it was an Iranian airman before recognizing the flight suit as American. Rescuers arrived quickly and transported the crew member to safety.

US Central Command was direct in its statement. Kuwait acknowledged the incident, launched an investigation, and the US expressed gratitude for Kuwaiti defense forces despite the loss. General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, confirmed at a Pentagon briefing Monday that the downed aircraft were not the result of hostile enemy fire.

The friendly fire incident underscores the complexity of a multi-nation air campaign running simultaneously against Iranian ballistic missiles, drones, and aircraft across a crowded and contested regional airspace.

The F-15E Strike Eagle is a twin-engine dual-role fighter capable of both air superiority and ground attack missions. Losing three in a single incident, regardless of cause, is a significant operational event.