By HAN News Desk
KUWAIT CITY — The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) released new details Tuesday regarding a serious incident over Kuwait in which three U.S. F-15E fighter jets were either shot down or crashed while on a mission in the region.
CENTCOM said the incident occurred amid ongoing missile and drone attacks believed to have originated from Iran, creating confusion in regional air defenses. Kuwaiti air defense forces mistakenly targeted the U.S. aircraft after misidentifying them as hostile threats, according to the command.
The jets were conducting operations intended to monitor or intercept incoming aerial threats. During the attacks, Kuwait’s air defense system fired on the aircraft, incorrectly identifying them as enemy targets, which led to the planes being hit or forced down.
All six crew members aboard the jets — including pilots and other personnel — ejected safely and were rescued. No fatalities or serious injuries have been reported.
Unverified reports suggest that some of the aircraft may also have been struck by missiles launched during the broader attacks linked to Iran. Videos circulating on social media, including Telegram, appear to show explosions and debris falling from the sky. Military experts are now analyzing the footage to determine the exact sequence of events.
CENTCOM and Kuwaiti forces have launched a joint investigation to determine how the misidentification occurred, the role incoming attacks may have played, and measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The incident has heightened concerns about accidental clashes and military miscalculations in the region, especially as tensions between Iran and the United States continue to escalate across the Gulf.
