Three American F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets were shot down in Kuwait during ongoing military action in the Middle East. The United States military said the aircraft were mistakenly hit by Kuwait’s own air defence system during active combat operations.
All six crew members managed to eject safely before the jets crashed. Officials confirmed that they have been rescued and are in stable condition.
What the US military said
In a statement released on Monday, US Central Command said the incident happened during heavy fighting that involved attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles and drones.
According to the statement, Kuwaiti air defence systems accidentally targeted the American jets. The US military has started an investigation to understand how the mistake happened.
The statement also thanked Kuwait for acknowledging the incident and for supporting the ongoing military mission, referred to as “Operation Epic Fury.”
Videos of the crash spread online
Several videos of the incident quickly went viral on social media. In one clip, a pilot can be seen ejecting from the aircraft just seconds before it crashes. Another video shows a pilot being helped by local residents and Kuwaiti authorities after landing safely on the ground.
The visuals have drawn widespread attention, especially as tensions in the region remain high.
About the F-15 Strike Eagle
The F-15 Strike Eagle is a powerful fighter jet used by the US Air Force. It is designed for both air-to-air combat and ground attack missions. The aircraft is known for its speed, range and heavy weapons load.
At present, the United States has around 334 F-15 aircraft in active service. These include:
- 108 F-15C aircraft
- 8 F-15D aircraft
- 218 F-15E Strike Eagles
- 8 F-15EX Eagle II jets, with more on order
These jets are stationed at different US military bases across the world.
Rising tensions in the Middle East
The incident comes at a time of growing tension in the Middle East. The situation worsened after recent US-Israel strikes reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
that, Iran has threatened retaliation and has been targeting US bases in the region. The US and Israel have warned Iran against further escalation.
With the situation already tense, the accidental downing of the jets has added another layer of concern. Investigators are now working to determine exactly what went wrong during the operation.
