Several American warplanes crashed in Kuwait but their crew survived, Kuwait’s defense ministry said Monday, as Iran said it targeted US Ali Al Salem base and black smoke was seen rising from the US embassy in Kuwait.

“Several US warplanes crashed this morning. Confirming that all crew members survived,” a Kuwaiti defense ministry spokesman said in a statement, adding that the cause was under investigation.

“Authorities immediately initiated search and rescue operations, evacuating the crews and transporting them to a hospital for medical evaluation and treatment. Their condition is stable,” the statement added.

The number of planes that crashed was unclear — most reports suggested one or two.

At least one pilot managed to eject, according to unconfirmed videos, and posts to social media suggested that at least one plane’s fall involved friendly fire.

In videos, a jet was seen spiraling to the ground in a flat spin.

Footage of an F-15 falling out of the sky this morning over Kuwait, in an apparent “friendly fire” incident involving the U.S. Air Force. pic.twitter.com/GQvryfJ4C4 — OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 2, 2026

Footage of an F-15 falling out of the sky this morning over Kuwait, in an apparent “friendly fire” incident involving the U.S. Air Force. pic.twitter.com/GQvryfJ4C4

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 2, 2026

There was no immediate comment from the American military.

UPDATE: Based on shared footage online, it appears two separate F-15 jets may have crashed — one fully engulfed in flames, the other with fire visible near the right engine only. This could explain Kuwait’s announcement that several jets crashed. H/T: azyakancokkacan pic.twitter.com/Y07E0ke0cl — Clash Report (@clashreport) March 2, 2026

UPDATE: Based on shared footage online, it appears two separate F-15 jets may have crashed — one fully engulfed in flames, the other with fire visible near the right engine only.

This could explain Kuwait’s announcement that several jets crashed.

H/T: azyakancokkacan pic.twitter.com/Y07E0ke0cl

— Clash Report (@clashreport) March 2, 2026

Meanwhile Monday morning, black smoke was seen rising from the US embassy in Kuwait, and the diplomatic mission told people not to come to the premises as Iran pressed on with a third day of attacks on the Gulf and Israel.

Sirens earlier sounded over Kuwait City following the latest volley of Iranian attacks in retaliation for US and Israeli strikes.

The embassy did not announce it had been hit, but issued a security alert urging people to stay away.

“There is a continuing threat of missile and UAV attacks over Kuwait. Do not come to the embassy,” the statement said. “US Embassy personnel are sheltering in place.”

Kuwait’s interior ministry said it intercepted an unspecified number of drones targeting the country at dawn.

Like some other US embassies in the Middle East, the outpost in Kuwait is a large, walled compound consisting of multiple buildings and recreational facilities.

It is located near other embassies and residential areas to the south of central Kuwait City, and the ruling emir’s Bayan Palace is not far away.

In December 1983, a truck packed with explosives heavily damaged parts of the US Embassy in Kuwait when it drove through a gate and detonated. The bombing was part of a series of attacks later blamed on Iranian-backed terror groups.

Iranian attacks have so far killed five people in the Gulf, according to authorities, including one person in Kuwait.

Earlier on Monday, loud explosions were heard across the Gulf cities of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha, Manama, and Kuwait.

Iran’s continued and unprecedented bombardment of the Gulf has hit military bases but also civilian infrastructure, including residential buildings, hotels, airports, and seaports, rattling a region long seen as a haven of peace and security in the turbulent Middle East.

Are you relying on The Times of Israel for accurate and timely coverage of the Iran war right now? If so, please join The Times of Israel Community. For as little as $6/month, you will:

Support our independent journalists who are working around the clock under difficult conditions to cover this conflict;

Read ToI with a clear, ads-free experience on our site, apps and emails; and

Gain access to exclusive content shared only with the ToI Community, including weekly letters from founding editor David Horovitz.

We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.

You clearly find our careful reporting of the Iran war valuable, at a time when facts are often distorted and news coverage often lacks context.

Your support is essential to continue our work. We want to continue delivering the professional journalism you value, even as the demands on our newsroom have grown dramatically during this ongoing conflict.

So today, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. For as little as $6 a month you'll become our partners while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.

Thank you,David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel

1 Iranian missile warhead falls less than a kilometer from Temple Mount, al-Aqsa Mosque

2 9 killed as Iranian missile destroys synagogue, smashes bomb shelter in Beit Shemesh

3 IDF says dozens of top Iranians killed within seconds of Khamenei as CIA role emerges

4 Iran attacks on Gulf damage Dubai airport, ignite fire at iconic Burj Al Arab hotel

5 Reporter's notebook‘Everything is gone’: Deadly Iranian strike on Beit Shemesh leaves residents reeling

6 AnalysisUnable to finish the job on his own, Trump takes a gamble in Iran

7 Four of the 9 victims of Iranian missile strike on Beit Shemesh named by authorities

8 Trump threatens Iran with force ‘never seen before’ as missiles bombard Israel for second day

2026 US-Israel war with Iran

© The Times of Israel