US CENTCOM says jets downed in Kuwait in friendly fire; Iran rejects talks as war widens

KUWAIT/DOHA/JERUSALEM: US Central Command said that Kuwaiti air defences mistakenly shot down three US F-15E fighter jets during operations against Iran in an incident of “friendly fire” that comes as the Middle East conflict widened dramatically on Monday.

“All six crew members aboard the aircraft ejected safely and are in stable condition,” CENTCOM said, adding that the jets were engaged in operations linked to the escalating confrontation with Iran when they were downed.

Kuwait’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that multiple US military aircraft crashed on Monday morning but said there were no fatalities.

The crews were transferred to hospital for medical evaluation and investigations into the incident are ongoing in coordination with US authorities.

CNN reported that an F-15 Eagle had also crashed near Ali Al Salem Air Base a day earlier. The cause of the crash was not immediately clear.

The incidents occurred as Iran continued missile and drone attacks against Israel and US military facilities across the Gulf in retaliation for joint US-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets.

Iran launched a new wave of missile attacks on Israel, wounding at least seven people and causing extensive property damage, according to emergency services.

Israeli media reported that nine people were killed in western Jerusalem, though those figures could not be independently verified.

Explosions were reported in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and parts of the occupied West Bank as air raid sirens sent residents to shelters.

Smoke was also seen rising near the U.S. embassy in Kuwait City, according to witnesses. Reuters and AFP reported that firefighters and ambulances were deployed near the scene.

The US embassy advised American citizens to avoid the area, seek shelter indoors, and remain away from windows, warning that missile and drone threats persisted.

Blasts were heard in Manama, Doha and Abu Dhabi, while CNN reported loud explosions and the sound of fighter jets over Doha and Dubai.

In Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region, authorities said air defences intercepted missiles and drones targeting Erbil International Airport.

Kuwait’s state news agency reported that falling debris at the Mina Al-Ahmadi oil refinery near Kuwait City injured two workers lightly.

Bahrain activated air raid sirens and temporarily closed the Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Bridge linking Manama. Gulf states remain on high alert amid fears of further escalation.

Iran’s National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani rejected reports of potential talks with Washington, saying Tehran would not negotiate with the United States.

“We will not negotiate with America,” Larijani wrote on X, dismissing a Wall Street Journal report that claimed he had sought to resume nuclear talks through Omani mediators following the reported death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Larijani accused U.S. President Donald Trump of plunging the Middle East into chaos and prioritising Israeli interests over American lives. He said Iran would continue to exercise its right to self-defence.

Separately, video circulating on social media showed an F-15 fighter jet engulfed in flames before crashing in Kuwait. The pilot was seen ejecting safely. Authorities have not released further official details.

The F-15 Eagle, originally developed by McDonnell Douglas — now part of Boeing — entered service in 1976 and is designed for air superiority missions. Variants include the F-15E Strike Eagle and the newer F-15EX.

In Cyprus, the government confirmed that a drone attack targeted the British air base at RAF Akrotiri, causing limited damage. President Nikos Christodoulides said the drone was Iranian-made but stressed that Cyprus was not participating in any military operations. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed solidarity with Cyprus.

Iranian state media claimed that 560 U.S. troops had been killed or wounded in missile strikes and that Iran had targeted the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln with four missiles. There was no independent confirmation of those claims.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards also said missiles struck three U.S. and British oil tankers in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. Those reports could not be independently verified.

Meanwhile, Israel launched a fresh wave of strikes on Tehran, with witnesses reporting heavy explosions and anti-aircraft fire lighting up the night sky. Israel extended its nationwide state of emergency until March 12 and placed security forces on high alert.

The conflict, now spanning Israel, Iran and multiple Gulf states hosting U.S. forces, has raised fears of a broader regional war involving major global powers.