The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has confirmed that three U.S. Air Force fighter jets were shot down over Kuwait in what appears to be a friendly fire incident during ongoing military operations.

In a statement, CENTCOM said the F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft were mistakenly engaged by Kuwaiti air defence systems amid active combat conditions under Operation Epic Fury.

According to the statement, the incident occurred in a complex battlefield environment involving coordinated attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles and drones. The jets were reportedly operating in Kuwaiti airspace when they were misidentified as hostile targets and shot down.

“All six aircrew ejected safely, have been recovered and are in stable condition,” CENTCOM said. It added that Kuwait has acknowledged the incident and expressed appreciation for the support of its defence forces.

Authorities said the cause of the incident remains under investigation, and further details will be released as more information becomes available.

The event highlights the risks of misidentification in high-intensity air operations as regional tensions continue to escalate.