The F-15E fighter aircraft were taking part in the attack on Iran, the Pentagon has said
Kuwaiti air defenses shot down three American F-15E fighter jets in “an apparent friendly fire incident” early on Monday, US Central Command has stated.
The Gulf country hosts a major US airbase from which Washington has been launching warplanes since the beginning of its massive unprovoked joint attack on Iran, together with Israeli forces. The attacks, which have killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as over a hundred schoolgirls in a strike on a single building in the south of the country, have provoked a massive response across the Gulf region.
“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,” CENTCOM wrote in a press release on Monday. “All six aircrew ejected safely, have been safely recovered, and are in stable condition. Kuwait has acknowledged this incident.”
In a statement, the Kuwaiti Defense Ministry said local authorities immediately initiated search and rescue operations after the crashes, evacuating the pilots for medical treatment. It did not mention friendly fire, however.
Videos on social media purport to show one of the US jets getting hit and spiraling out of control.
Other footage purportedly shows one of the US jets going down, with the two crew members parachuting to safety.
At least four American soldiers have been killed so far in the conflict with Iran, CENTCOM acknowledged in a follow-up statement on Monday.
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