ALBAWABA- Three U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets crashed in Kuwait on Monday amid a wave of Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting American military bases across the Gulf, according to the Kuwaiti Ministry of Defense and verified reports.
The ministry said “several American warplanes”, later confirmed to be three aircraft, went down, but that all crew members escaped safely. Pilots and weapons systems officers ejected before impact and were recovered unharmed.
Geolocated videos shared on social media showed one jet descending in flames near Ali Al Salem Air Base, about 10 kilometers west of Al Jahra, with a pilot parachuting to safety. Residents reportedly assisted in securing at least one of the crew members after landing.
The crashes occurred during what Iran described as “Operation True Promise 4,” a coordinated barrage of missiles and drones launched in retaliation for the February 28 joint U.S.–Israeli airstrikes that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and more than 40 senior Iranian officials.
Iranian state media claimed successful strikes on 27 U.S. positions in the Gulf, including Ali Al Salem Air Base, which hosts American forces under bilateral defense agreements.
While early speculation suggested the aircraft may have been struck by Iranian projectiles, U.S. and Kuwaiti sources indicated the crashes could have resulted from defensive operations, including the possibility of friendly fire during missile interceptions. Authorities have not confirmed the exact cause, and investigations are ongoing.
Kuwait, though not directly involved in the U.S.-led strikes on Iran, has hosted American forces since the 1991 Gulf War, making its installations potential targets in Tehran’s view. The U.S. Central Command has not released detailed information on material losses but confirmed heightened air defense measures across the region.
