Friendly Fire Shoots Down US F-15s Over Kuwait, Crews Safe

The U.S. military has suffered multiple aircraft losses due to friendly fire as fighting with Iran entered its third day, underscoring the escalating intensity and complexity of the regional conflict.

U.S. Central Command confirmed that three Boeing F-15E Strike Eagles were shot down over Kuwait at 7:03 a.m. local time after being mistakenly engaged by Kuwaiti air defenses. All six crew members were recovered and are reported to be in stable condition.

The incident follows earlier casualty reports from Centcom, which said three U.S. service members were killed March 1, with a fourth succumbing to injuries the following day after Iranian attacks.

Iran has continued expanding its drone and ballistic missile campaign in response to coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes targeting military infrastructure and leadership. Hundreds of ballistic missiles and thousands of drones have reportedly been launched since late February, striking military facilities, airports and energy infrastructure across Israel and Gulf nations.

An Iranian drone strike also hit a British air base in Cyprus, prompting Greece to dispatch two F-16 fighter jets and an air-defense frigate to the island. Saudi Arabia said it intercepted five drones headed toward Prince Sultan Air Base, while Qatar reported two drone impacts that led QatarEnergy to suspend liquefied natural gas production.

Israel’s military said it has widened operations into Lebanon after Hezbollah launched rockets toward Israeli territory. The Israel Defense Forces reported more than 700 air missions over Iran, including operations over Tehran, as it seeks to maintain air superiority.

The Pentagon’s Operation Epic Fury has involved significant U.S. naval and air assets, including the aircraft carriers USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Abraham Lincoln. U.S.-based B-2 bombers, F-35s, F-22s, F-16s, F/A-18s and A-10 aircraft have been deployed, alongside Tomahawk cruise missiles and Precision Strike Missiles. Centcom also confirmed the first operational use of a new low-cost unmanned combat drone resembling Iran’s Shahed-136.

Additional support assets have included P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, RC-135 intelligence platforms, MQ-9 Reapers, E-3 AWACS surveillance aircraft and aerial refueling tankers.

Defense industry shares rose in early trading amid heightened military activity, though analysts cautioned that long-term gains may be limited by production capacity constraints.

The widening conflict continues to disrupt regional aviation, energy production and commercial activity, raising concerns about prolonged instability and broader economic fallout.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, aviationweek.com