US F-15 fighter jet crashes in Kuwait as Middle East conflict widens

A US Air Force F-15 fighter jet crashed in Kuwait on March 2, as the broader conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran continued to spread across the Middle East, local officials and military sources reported.

The crash comes amid a wave of Iranian retaliation after joint strikes by US and Israeli forces on Iranian territory that have greatly heightened regional tensions.

Kuwait’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that several US military aircraft crashed in or over Kuwaiti territory, including at least one F-15 fighter jet. All crew members aboard the aircraft have survived and were reportedly evacuated to safety, the ministry said, with no immediate reports of fatalities.

Videos circulating on social media and shared by regional media appear to show the US fighter jet engulfed in flames as it spiralled toward the ground, with the pilots ejecting before impact. The footage underscores the volatility of the situation as hostilities escalate across Gulf states.

The incident in Kuwait reflects the conflict’s widening footprint after Iran launched a series of missile and drone attacks targeting US and allied interests in the region in retaliation for the strikes on Iran.

Tehran has said its operations would continue as long as necessary, framing them as defensive acts in response to foreign assaults on its soil.

In addition to the aircraft crash, smoke was reported near the US Embassy in Kuwait City, prompting heightened security alert and emergency responses by local authorities. Gulf states have also activated air defences and intercepted incoming projectiles, as the conflict engulfs multiple theatres across the Middle East.

The US Embassy in Kuwait issued warnings urging American citizens to seek shelter amid ongoing missile and drone threats, as regional tensions have triggered widespread airspace closures and disruptions to civilian travel.