Three US F-15s shot down in Kuwait 'friendly fire' incident
All crew members ejected, but a fourth American soldier died from injuries sustained in a separate incident Iranian attack over the weekend, US officials said.
WASHINGTON — Three US F-15E Strike Eagles were shot down in "an apparent friendly-fire incident" over Kuwait on Monday, the US military's Middle East headquarters 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," US Central Command said in a press release.
All six crew members ejected safely and are in stable condition, CENTCOM said. Videos of the event circulated on social media, including one of a pilot stands surrounded by local residents after parachuting to the ground.
"Kuwait has acknowledged this incident, and we are grateful for the efforts of the Kuwaiti defense forces and their support in this ongoing operation. The cause of the incident is under investigation," CENTCOM said.
In a press briefing at the Pentagon on Monday, Washington's top general, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine, said, "We know that this was not from hostile enemy fire."
Separately, a fourth American soldier died of injuries in a previous strike by Iran that had killed three others and wounded several more, CENTCOM said Monday. That incident occurred in Kuwait, US officials previously said.
This developing story has been updated.
