.
A U.S. Air Force F-15 fighter jet crashed in Kuwait on Monday as tensions in the Middle East escalated following a joint U.S.-Israeli military operation that resulted in the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.The rapidly evolving conflict in the Middle East has expanded further after the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) claimed on Monday that a US F-15 fighter jet was shot down over Kuwait earlier in the day.Iran’s Islamic Republic News Agency quoted local sources as saying the video footage showed the downing of a US fighter jet.“According to local sources, a US F-15 fighter jet was shot down over Kuwait on Monday morning,” the post said.However, the specific cause of the crash has not been officially confirmed.According to preliminary reports, both the pilot and the weapons systems officer (WSO) on board the U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle that crashed over Kuwait survived.Local residents reportedly spotted the two crew members and later handed them over to Kuwaiti authorities.A video of the fighter jet crash also appeared on social media.Some reports suggested the plane may have been hit during a possible “friendly fire” incident involving the U.S. Air Force. However, U.S. Central Command and the Pentagon have not officially confirmed the cause of the crash.Earlier, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) shared a post on X claiming that Iran was targeting multiple locations in the region, including “Dubai International Airport, Kuwait International Airport, Dubai Zayed International Airport, Erbil International Airport in Iraq, Dubai Port” as well as residential areas in Israel, Bahrain and Qatar.Al Jazeera also reported on Monday that new explosions were heard in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and loud bangs were also heard in Doha. Arab News reported that Iranian missiles and drones were also targeting Kuwait and Bahrain. A witness told Reuters that thick smoke was billowing from near the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait.Earlier in the day, Kuwait air defense forces shot down “multiple hostile air targets” in the early hours of Monday morning (local time), according to the Kuwaiti Army.The Kuwaiti Army wrote in a post on He affirmed that the armed forces will continue to perform their duties and respond to any potential developments to ensure the security and stability of the country. “The developments come as Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani firmly rejected on Monday that Iran would enter talks with the United States.The second meeting of the Interim Leadership Council was held after Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a US-Israeli attack on Saturday during the epic Operation Fury/Roaring Lion.Donald Trump addressed the Iranian public on Saturday after Khamenei’s killing, calling on them to overthrow the government. “This may be your only chance in generations,” he said after the United States and Israel began attacking Iran.The Interim Leadership Council was established shortly after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior security officials were killed in ongoing attacks by the United States and Israel.An interim council, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, will oversee the country until a new top leader is elected. Iranian state media reported that attacks in 24 provinces have killed at least 201 people, Al Jazeera reported.
