In a confirmed friendly fire incident during Operation Epic Fury, three U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defense systems, according to U.S. Central Command. The घटना occurred at approximately 7:00 a.m. local time as the aircraft were conducting operations to intercept Iranian missiles, drones, and aircraft amid heightened regional tensions. Initial claims from Iranian state media and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) suggested responsibility for the downed jets; however, U.S. officials have firmly rejected those assertions, stating the losses resulted from an accidental engagement by allied forces in Kuwait.
All six crew members aboard the three aircraft successfully ejected and were later recovered in stable condition. CENTCOM commended Kuwaiti forces for their swift search-and-rescue response, which Reuters geolocated near the Al Jahra region, west of Kuwait City. Footage from the area showed at least one aircraft descending and pilots receiving assistance from local responders. Kuwaiti officials initially reported engaging unidentified hostile targets but later acknowledged the error and pledged full cooperation with U.S. investigators. Speaking at a Pentagon briefing, Gen. Dan Caine confirmed the incident and emphasized that enemy fire was not involved. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not comment during the session. A joint investigation is ongoing, focusing on coordination breakdowns and technical failures that contributed to the incident.
