Three U.S. F-15 fighter jets participating in strikes against Iran were shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses in what the American military described [1] as a friendly fire incident, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement early Monday.
All six crew members aboard the aircraft were able to eject safely and were reported to be in stable condition.
“Kuwait has acknowledged this incident, and we are grateful for the efforts of the Kuwaiti defense forces and their support in this ongoing operation,” Tampa, Fla.-based CENTCOM said.
Video footage circulating online showed the jets crashing, with dramatic images capturing the aftermath.
The incident occurred shortly after what officials described as an apparent Iranian drone barrage struck the U.S. embassy compound in Kuwait City.
The embassy had earlier issued a warning to Americans in the area, instructing them to remain indoors and avoid the compound.
The alert advised citizens to take cover and stated, “Do not come to the Embassy.”
Fire and smoke were seen rising from inside the embassy compound following the drone attack.
There were no immediate reports of casualties linked to the strike.
Kuwait is among several Persian Gulf nations that have been targeted by Iranian missiles and drones in recent days.
The attacks come amid a broader campaign involving the United States and Israel that has resulted in the deaths of four dozen senior Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Over the weekend, three American soldiers deployed to Kuwait were killed in an Iranian strike.
The troops were part of a unit overseeing supplies and logistics operations in the region.
Those fatalities marked the first U.S. casualties of what the Pentagon has officially designated as Operation Epic Fury.
CENTCOM said it would withhold the names of the fallen service members until 24 hours after their families had been notified.
Beyond Kuwait, Iranian retaliatory strikes have hit U.S. bases in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain. Bahrain hosts the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet.
Tehran has also directed attacks toward oil infrastructure across the region.
On Monday, Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura oil refinery was targeted by a drone strike.
According to a military spokesman quoted by the state-run Saudi Press Agency, air defenses successfully intercepted the incoming drone.
Online videos appeared to show thick black smoke rising in the vicinity following the incident.
Even when drones are intercepted, debris can fall and cause damage or injuries.
Ras Tanura, located near the city of Dammam in eastern Saudi Arabia, is one of the world’s largest oil refineries, with a capacity exceeding half a million barrels of crude oil per day.
Saudi state television reported that the facility was temporarily shut down as a precaution after the attack.
Earlier in the day, debris from intercepted drones fell on Kuwait’s Ahmadi oil refinery, injuring two workers, according to the state-run KUNA news agency.
The friendly fire incident involving the U.S. F-15s adds to the volatility in a region already facing sustained missile and drone attacks.
Military officials have not provided additional details about the circumstances that led to the Kuwaiti air defense response against the U.S. aircraft.
As Operation Epic Fury continues, CENTCOM has indicated that combat operations remain active.