A late-night friendly fire incident over Kuwait has left six United States Air Force pilots in stable condition after their aircraft were mistakenly targeted by local air defenses.
The Pentagon confirmed on Monday that three F-15E Strike Eagles were downed at approximately 11:03 p.m. ET on March 1. The incident occurred during the heat of “active combat” involving a complex wave of Iranian drones, ballistic missiles, and aircraft.
Footage circulating on social media appears to show a military aircraft falling from the sky in Kuwait’s Al Jahra area, with at least one person seen parachuting from the wreckage.
United States Central Command (CENTCOM) issued a formal statement early Monday morning detailing the sequence of events, explaining that the Strike Eagles were flying in support of Iran-related operations when the Kuwaiti military, an ally in the region, accidentally engaged the American jets.
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“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,” CENTCOM stated. “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.”
Despite the loss of the aircraft, officials confirmed a successful recovery mission.
“All six aircrew ejected safely, have been safely recovered, and are in stable condition,” the statement continued. “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.”
The F-15E Strike Eagle, a multi-role fighter-bomber in service since 1989, is designed for high-speed interdiction and air-to-air combat. Capable of reaching speeds over Mach 2.5, these Boeing-built jets are equipped with a 20mm Vulcan cannon and can carry various air-to-surface and air-to-air weapons, including the AIM-120 AMRAAM.
RELATED: Fourth U.S. Service Member Dies Following Iranian Attacks In Operation Epic Fury
This accidental engagement comes at a moment of extreme tension across the Middle East. The U.S. and Israel launched a large-scale attack on Iran on Saturday, dubbed “Operation Epic Fury,” which resulted in the death of several top Iranian leaders, including the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Four U.S. service members were also reported killed in action during the opening stages of the conflict. While the Pentagon continues to assess the tactical failure that led to this friendly fire event, they have committed to releasing more specific details as the formal investigation moves forward.
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