(TNND) — The U.S. military confirmed on Monday that Kuwait “mistakenly shot down” three American F-15E Strike Eagles flying in support of Operation Epic Fury during active combat as Iran attacked the country.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) described the incident as “an apparent friendly fire incident.”
“During active combat—that included attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones — the U.S. Air Force fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses,” a statement read.
CENTCOM said all six aircrew were able to eject safely and were recovered in stable condition. The cause of the incident is under investigation.
“Kuwait has acknowledged this incident, and we are grateful for the efforts of the Kuwaiti defense forces and their support in this ongoing operation,” officials stated.
A spokesperson for Kuwait’s defense ministry said authorities immediately initiated search and rescue procedures and evacuated the crews to hospitals for evaluation.
The U.S. and Kuwait are conducting a joint investigation into the crash, the spokesperson added.
The friendly fire episode unfolded as fighting intensified across the region.
Overnight, Iran launched another wave of strikes toward Israel, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said, adding their defense systems were working to intercept the threat.
Multiple airstrikes hit Tehran, Iran’s capital, on Monday, while top Iranian security official Ali Larijani declared on X that “we will not negotiate with the United States.”
“Today, the Iranian nation is defending itself. The armed forces of Iran did not initiate the aggression,” Larijani wrote in a separate post.
The Iranian Red Crescent Society reported that at least 555 people have been killed in Iran since the U.S. and Israel initiated a joint strike early Saturday morning. Eleven people have been killed in Israel and 31 in Lebanon, according to authorities.
The U.S. military announced on Sunday that three service members were killed in action and five were seriously wounded. Several others sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions and will return to duty.
President Donald Trump addressed the casualties in a video on Truth Social, where he vowed to “avenge” troops killed in the war, issued a new ultimatum to the enemy, and implored America to back his battle for “freedom” in his second address to the nation in 48 hours.
He called the three deceased service members “true American patriots,” and added: “Sadly, there will likely be more, before it ends. That’s the way it is. Likely be more.”
Trump urged Iranians to “take over” their government after the strikes on Saturday and signaled he would be open to dialogue with new leadership following the confirmed death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
He vowed the strikes against Iran will continue “as long as necessary” and in an interview with the Daily Mail, said he expected the operation to last about four weeks.
Trump revealed on Sunday that U.S. military forces “sunk 9 Iranian Naval ships, some of them relatively large and important.”
“They will soon be floating at the bottom of the sea, also!” the president said. “In a different attack, we largely destroyed their Naval Headquarters. Other than that, their Navy is doing very well!”
The weekend attacks marked the second time in eight months that the U.S. and Israel had combined against Iran, in a startling show of military might for an American president elected on an “America First” platform who pledged to keep out of “forever wars.”
In the 12-day war last June, Israeli and American strikes greatly weakened Iran’s air defenses, military leadership and nuclear program. But the killing of Khamenei, who ruled Iran for more than three decades, creates a leadership vacuum, increasing the risk of regional instability.