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Iran-Israel02 March, 20262 min read

Kuwaiti Air Defenses Mistakenly Shoot Down Three U.S. F-15Es During Operation Epic Fury

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Kuwaiti air defenses mistakenly shot down three U.S. F-15E Strike Eagles during Operation Epic Fury All six aircrew ejected safely, were recovered and are reported in stable condition

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Kuwaiti Air Defenses Mistakenly Shoot Down Three U.S. F-15Es During Operation Epic Fury
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100 outlets told this the same way.

F-15E shootdowns in Kuwait

U.S. Central Command and multiple news outlets reported that three U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles were shot down over Kuwait.

“On March 1 at 11:03 p.m. ET, three U.S. F-15E Strike Eagles supporting Operation Epic Fury were shot down over Kuwait in an apparent friendly-fire incident by Kuwaiti air defenses amid combat involving Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles and drones.”
centcom.mil

CENTCOM described the incident as an apparent friendly-fire event during Operation Epic Fury.

Image from AeroTime
Image: AeroTime

CENTCOM said the jets were supporting Operation Epic Fury and were shot down over Kuwait by Kuwaiti air defenses.

Several outlets used wording that Kuwait’s air defenses "mistakenly shot down" or "accidentally shot down" U.S. jets.

Official and press accounts noted the losses occurred amid an intense, multi-party engagement tied to the wider U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran.

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Operation Epic Fury context

CENTCOM and other reports placed the incident during an atmosphere of heavy aerial activity, describing Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles and drone attacks that U.S. and partner forces were intercepting or engaging. The official CENTCOM statement and numerous outlets tied the shootdowns directly to that chaotic air-defense environment, giving the incident a clear operational context within Operation Epic Fury. Some outlets also reported broader strike packages and defensive systems were active in the campaign.

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Aircrew ejection and rescue

All six U.S. aircrew ejected and were recovered. Multiple sources said the survivors were in stable condition after Kuwait launched search-and-rescue efforts and assisted with evacuations to hospitals. CENTCOM and Kuwaiti officials were quoted as cooperating on rescue and recovery.

“All six aircrew ejected and were recovered in stable condition; Kuwait launched search-and-rescue efforts and evacuated the crews to hospitals.”
WPDE

U.S. military statements thanked Kuwaiti defense forces and said an investigation was under way. Several outlets reiterated that Kuwait had acknowledged the incident and was coordinating with U.S. authorities.

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Jet footage and verification

Video and social‑media footage circulated showing one or more jets spiraling and crew parachuting to the ground; outlets described at least one geolocated clip near Al Jahra or Ali Al Salem air base that appears to show an F‑15E engulfed in flames and a pilot ejecting.

Media organizations varied in how they characterized the footage — some verified clips and others described the material as unverified social‑media video — but multiple verified‑video reports noted flaming jets, parachutes and on‑ground recovery activity.

Image from Al Jazeera
Image: Al Jazeera
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Shootdowns and regional escalation

U.S. and Kuwaiti authorities said they are investigating the causes of the shootdowns, with CENTCOM calling it an "apparent friendly‑fire incident" and thanking Kuwaiti defense forces for their assistance. Reporters and analysts placed the event amid a wider regional escalation in which U.S. officials reported multiple casualties and Iranian forces or proxies struck facilities across the Gulf; several outlets noted separate U.S. service‑member deaths and wounded in related attacks as the broader campaign continued. Because some reports included unverified battlefield claims and contradictory casualty tallies, sources emphasize the investigation and verification process is ongoing.

“CENTCOM also reported three U.S. service members killed and five seriously wounded in combat.”
Military Times
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