CENTCOM confirms Kuwait air defenses mistakenly shot down three US F-15Es

2026-03-02 - 11:33

US Central Command confirmed Monday that three F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses during ongoing military operations in the region. The incident occurred at 11:03 p.m. ET (0403 GMT) on March 1 while the aircraft were flying in support of Operation Epic Fury, CENTCOM stated. Crew Safety and Recovery All six aircrew members ejected safely and have been recovered in stable condition, according to the statement. "Kuwait has acknowledged this incident, and we are grateful for the efforts of the Kuwaiti defense forces and their support in this ongoing operation," CENTCOM added. The successful recovery of all personnel represents a positive outcome amid the otherwise tragic friendly fire incident. Investigation Launched US Central Command announced that an investigation has been initiated to determine the cause of the incident and prevent future occurrences. The friendly fire event underscores the heightened alert status and complexity of military operations in the Gulf region, where multiple nations' forces are operating in close proximity amid escalating tensions following US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Iranian retaliatory attacks.