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Three US F-15 Jets Downed in Kuwait in Apparent Friendly Fire Incident

Three U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle jets were shot down over Kuwait in what officials describe as an apparent friendly fire incident. The aircraft were operating in support of Operation Epic Fury during active combat conditions involving threats from Iranian aircraft, missiles, and drones. All six aircrew members were safely recovered and are reported to be in stable condition. The cause of the incident is under investigation, with Kuwait having acknowledged the event.

Key Points: US F-15 Jets Shot Down in Kuwait Friendly Fire Incident

  • Three US F-15E jets shot down
  • Apparent friendly fire by Kuwaiti defenses
  • All six crew safely recovered
  • Incident occurred during active combat
2 min read

Three US jets downed in Kuwait, friendly fire: CENTCOM​

Three U.S. F-15E Strike Eagles downed over Kuwait in apparent friendly fire. All six crew members safely recovered. Incident under investigation.

"Kuwait has acknowledged this incident, and we are grateful for the efforts of the Kuwaiti defence forces - CENTCOM release"

Washington, March 2

Three U.S. F-15E Strike Eagles flying in support of Operation Epic Fury were shot down over Kuwait in what American military officials described as an apparent friendly fire incident, with all six aircrew safely recovered.​

The incident occurred at 11:03 p.m. ET on March 1, according to a statement issued by CENTCO.​

"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," the release said.​

The aircraft were operating during active combat conditions.​

During active combat involving attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones, the U.S. Air Force jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defences.​

The U.S. military confirmed that all crew members survived the incident.​

All six aircrew were safely recovered and are in stable condition, according to the release.​

It added that "Kuwait has acknowledged this incident, and we are grateful for the efforts of the Kuwaiti defence forces and their support in this ongoing operation."​

The cause of the incident remains under review.​

The cause is under investigation. More details will be released when available.​

No further operational details were immediately disclosed, including the precise location of the shootdown over Kuwaiti territory or whether the aircraft were returning from or engaging in strikes at the time.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
Very unfortunate incident. It shows how chaotic and high-risk these operations are. The fact that Kuwait has acknowledged it and everyone is cooperating is a good sign. The focus should be on preventing such tragedies in the future.
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Aman W
This is why we need strong indigenous defence systems. Relying on foreign powers and complex alliances sometimes leads to such "friendly fire". Our forces must learn from this. 🇮🇳
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Sarah B
Six lives saved is the most important takeaway. The technology and training for safe recovery worked, and that's commendable. The investigation must be transparent to maintain trust between the US and Kuwait.
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Vikram M
With Iranian drones and missiles in the mix, the air defence operators were probably on high alert. A split-second mistake costing three advanced jets... incredibly expensive error. But human life is priceless, glad they're okay.
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Karthik V
While the survival is a relief, one has to ask respectfully: How does such a major failure in IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) happen between close allies? This isn't a minor glitch. The public statement seems to smooth things over too quickly.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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