Iran conflict 2026: Iranian F-5 pilots claim credit for Kuwaiti friendly fire shootdowns

An Iranian F-5 displayed at the 4th Fighter Base in Dezful during an air show in March 2024. (Islamic Republic News Agency)

A Kuwaiti fighter jet accidently shot down three US Air Force F-15Es on 1 March due to the confusion caused by the intrusion of Iranian aircraft, according to the pilots who claim to have flown the mission.

In an interview aired by Iranian state television on 17 June, the three pilots said they volunteered to attack US Army's Camp Buehring in Kuwait on the second day of the war that began on 28 February using two F-5 fighter jets, one of which was a two-seat version.

Their faces obscured and wearing fight suits with no rank or unit insignia, the pilots claimed they flew below 50 ft (15.2 m) and in complete radio silence to avoid being detected. One claimed they were so low they flew between ships they passed on their way to Kuwait.

They claimed they saw helicopters exploding after they released their bombs over Camp Buehring, which is in the desert in northern Kuwait. They also claimed that the Kuwaiti military was so confused by the air raid that one its fighter jets shot down US F-15s that were heading towards Iran.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) released a statement on 2 March saying three F-15Es were “mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defences” the previous day “during active combat that included attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones”. All six crew members ejected safely.

The Wall Street Journal cited sources familiar with the initial report on the incident as saying all three F-15Es were shot down by the same Kuwaiti F/A-18 fighter, a claim that remains uncorroborated.