US Central Command said on Monday that three US F-15 fighter jets were shot down by Kuwait’s air defenses in an “apparent friendly fire incident,” though it also acknowledged that the incident happened amid an Iranian attack.
“At 11:03 pm ET, March 1, three US F-15E Strike Eagles flying in support of Operation Epic Fury went down over Kuwait due to an apparent friendly fire incident,” CENTCOM said. “During active combat—that included attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones — the US Air Force fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses.”
Before CENTCOM released its statement, the Iranian military said that its forces shot down one US F-15. “An F-15 fighter jet [belonging] to the intruding US army which intended to attack the country has been targeted by the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Air Defense and brought down,” an air defense base in Iran said in a statement, according to PressTV.
Kuwait's air defenses mistakenly shot down three US F-15 fighter jets during active combat, US Central Command said, describing it as an apparent friendly-fire incident during the conflict with Iran https://t.co/uY9rOlx1Ho pic.twitter.com/TCDwhBKEWR
— Reuters (@Reuters) March 2, 2026
CENTCOM said that the six crewmembers on the three F-15s “ejected safely, have been safely recovered, and are in stable condition.” It added that “Kuwait has acknowledged this incident, and we are grateful for the efforts of the Kuwaiti defense forces and their support in this ongoing operation.”
CENTCOM said later in the day that the total number of American troops who have been killed since the US and Israel launched the war has risen to six. “US forces recently recovered the remains of two previously unaccounted for service members from a facility that was struck during Iran’s initial attacks in the region,” the command said.
According to US military officials, all four US troops died as a result of an Iranian attack on an Army base in Kuwait. CNN reported that another 18 US troops have been “severely wounded” in the war, suggesting the death toll will rise.
President Trump and his top officials have been saying that more US troops are expected to be killed. “And sadly, there will likely be more before it ends. That’s the way it is,” Trump said on Sunday.
