Kuwait Downs 3 US F-15 Jets as Gulf War Escalates

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) – the command node directing joint Operation Epic Fury against Iran – said on 2 March that three F-15E ‘Strike Eagle’ fighter jets were shot down in separate ‘friendly fire’ incidents by Kuwaiti air defences.

Kuwait mistakenly shot down three US F-15E fighter jets during an Iranian missile and drone assault, in one of the most dramatic incidents since the US-Israeli campaign against Iran widened across the Middle East.

According to United States Central Command, all six crew members ejected safely and were recovered without serious injury. The incident underscored the growing risks as Gulf states face retaliatory attacks linked to the escalating conflict.

The regional war intensified after joint US-Israeli strikes targeted more than 1,200 sites in Iran, including military and government facilities. Washington said the campaign aims to cripple Tehran’s nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities. Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks on Israel and Gulf countries hosting US forces.

US President Donald Trump said the operation could last weeks, adding that American objectives had not yet been fully achieved. Oil prices surged and global air travel faced disruption as shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz — a corridor for roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil trade — was effectively halted.

The conflict expanded further when Lebanon’s Hezbollah launched rockets and drones toward Israel, prompting Israeli airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs. Lebanese authorities reported at least 31 people killed and 149 wounded.

Elsewhere in the Gulf, drone strikes damaged energy infrastructure and triggered temporary shutdowns at major facilities. The US State Department urged American citizens to leave several countries in the region amid continuing missile and drone threats.

Inside Iran, airstrikes have reportedly killed scores of civilians, while uncertainty deepens over the country’s political future following the reported killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iranian officials insist they are not seeking negotiations under current conditions and vow to continue defending the country.

Analysts warn that the widening confrontation risks drawing in more regional actors, threatening global energy supplies and heightening fears of a prolonged and unpredictable war.