KUWAIT — A video circulating on social media shows a U.S. Air Force F-15 pilot, after ejecting and landing on the ground, being approached by a man wielding a metal pipe in a threatening manner before the situation was defused.
According to video verification experts, the footage was filmed in Al Ahmadi, Kuwait. Reuters and content tracking unit Storyful confirmed the location and authenticity of the clip. However, a still image related to the incident was flagged as showing signs of AI manipulation.
The Friendly Fire Incident
Three U.S. F-15E Strike Eagles were accidentally shot down by Kuwaiti air defense forces amid intense combat operations. All six crew members ejected safely and were confirmed to be in stable condition.
Kuwait’s Ministry of Defense said it was coordinating with the U.S. to clarify “the circumstances of the incident.” U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) also confirmed Kuwait acknowledged the friendly fire occurred while the area was under attack from aircraft, ballistic missiles, and Iranian drones.
“During ongoing combat operations, U.S. Air Force fighter jets were mistakenly engaged by Kuwaiti air defenses,” CENTCOM stated, while thanking Kuwaiti forces for their cooperation in the campaign.
What the Video Shows
The first video shows a group of local residents approaching the pilot who had just landed. One person in the group raised a metal pipe in a striking position. The pilot repeatedly shouted for them to back off and identified himself as American, even kneeling down to show he posed no threat.
After realizing he was not an Iranian pilot, the group lowered the metal pipe and walked away.
A second video that later went viral showed a female F-15 pilot being assisted by local residents, amid a backdrop of many foreigners attempting to charter private jets to leave the Middle East due to fears of escalating conflict. A man ran up to ask if she was safe and offered help. She confirmed she was fine, and the man said: “Thank you for helping us.”
The Military Context
According to CENTCOM, six U.S. service members were killed as part of Operation Epic Fury. This escalation also caused oil prices to surge sharply due to concerns over global energy supply disruptions.
President Trump stated over the weekend that war always has casualties and emphasized that military operations are ongoing. The investigation into the friendly fire incident and related developments continues.
