By Harold Hutchison
Six United States Air Force pilots are in “stable condition” after Kuwaiti air defenses shot down three F-15E Strike Eagles in a friendly fire incident late Sunday night, the Pentagon reported.
United States Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that the fighters were downed at 11:03 p.m. Eastern time during “active combat” with Iranian forces. CENTCOM reported that the incident is being investigated. (RELATED: US CENTCOM Announces Three Service Members Killed In Action, Several Others Injured As Operation Epic Fury Continues)
“At 11:03 p.m. ET, March 1, three U.S. F-15E Strike Eagles flying in support of Operation Epic Fury went down over Kuwait due to an apparent friendly fire incident,” CENTCOM said in a statement released early Monday morning. “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.”
“All six aircrew ejected safely, have been safely recovered, and are in stable condition,” CENTCOM continued. “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. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.”
The Boeing F-15E is a multi-role fighter-bomber that had been in service since 1989, according to a United States Air Force fact sheet. It has a top speed in excess of Mach 2.5, a 20mm M61A1 Vulcan cannon, can carry AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and can carry just about any air-to-surface weapon in the United States military’s inventory.
The Middle East is currently on high alert after the U.S. launched a series of attacks against Iran on Friday night, dubbed “Operation Epic Fury,” which resulted in the death of the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Three service members were also killed in action.
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