Kuwaiti pilot accidentally downs three US F-15s over Kuwait – WSJ
Three US F-15 fighter jets have mistakenly been downed over Kuwait by a local pilot.
Source: The Wall Street Journal, citing three people familiar with early reports about the incident
Quote: "One Kuwaiti F/A-18 pilot launched three missiles against the US aircraft, according to one of the people, a US official. All three US aircraft went down, but their pilots and back-seaters ejected safely."
Details: A second source told the WSJ that the incident had occurred shortly after several Iranian drones entered Kuwaiti airspace, with one striking a tactical operations centre at a commercial port, killing six US service members.
The source added that Kuwaiti officials had been on edge when their radar had detected approaching aircraft and had opened fire
A spokesperson for US Central Command declined to comment.
"The incident is under investigation, and the official cause of the crash could change," the WSJ added.
Background:
- It was reported that several US military aircraft had crashed in Kuwait on the morning of 2 March. All crew members survived.
- On the morning of 28 February, US President Donald Trump announced that the US had launched a large-scale operation against Iran. Israel also carried out strikes.
- Iran responded with strikes on several Gulf countries where US military bases are located.
- French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said that France is ready to contribute to the defence of its partners in the Middle East amid the escalating situation in the region.
- UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer authorised the US to use British military bases to destroy Iranian missile depots and launchers.
Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!