Kuwait says several US fighter jets have 'fallen'

KUWAIT CITY - Kuwait's Ministry of Defence announced Monday that several US military aircraft — including fighter jets — had crashed within Kuwaiti territory earlier in morning, marking a dramatic escalation in the ongoing US-Iran conflict. 

The ministry's statement, posted on its official social media channels, confirmed that all crew members survived the incidents, with pilots safely ejecting and subsequently receiving medical checkups in stable condition.

The announcement came amid the third day of Iranian retaliatory missile and drone strikes across the Gulf region, following massive joint US-Israeli airstrikes on Iranian targets which started on Saturday. 

Kuwait, which hosts significant US military facilities including Ali al-Salem Air Base - a key hub for air operations in the Middle East - has been directly affected by the crossfire. Air defence systems in the country intercepted multiple "hostile aerial targets" approaching via maritime routes, according to state media reports.

The ministry did not specify the exact number of aircraft involved or the precise cause of the crashes, but videos circulating online — geolocated by outlets like CNN to areas near Al Jahra and US bases — showed at least one fighter jet (identified in some reports as an F-15E Strike Eagle) spiraling downward in flames before impact, with the pilot parachuting to safety. 

Debris from one incident reportedly fell near the Mina Al Ahmadi refinery, injuring two workers and prompting emergency response teams.

Iranian state media and officials claimed responsibility for downing at least one US F-15, sharing footage of a jet in flames. 

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) had not immediately commented on the crashes as of late morning, though joint investigations with Kuwaiti authorities were reportedly underway.

Kuwait's airspace has been under severe strain since the conflict intensified. The country — along with Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan — condemned Iran's strikes as "reckless" in a joint statement with the United States, highlighting violations of sovereignty. Air defenses across the Gulf have been on high alert, with interceptions of incoming projectiles reported daily.

The crashes represent the first confirmed losses of US combat aircraft in Kuwait since the escalation began, though all personnel were reported safe — a stark contrast to earlier casualties among US troops at regional bases.

Meanwhile, smoke was seen rising from the vicinity of the US embassy in  Kuwait, and fire fighters and ambulances were seen in the area, a witness told Reuters on Monday.

The embassy urges people not to come to the building and to take cover amid a continuing threat of Iranian missiles and drones over the Kuwaiti airspace.