The Middle East tensions rose again on Monday, March 23, after fresh claims emerged, saying that an Iranian force had shot down a U.S. F-15 fighter jet in Kuwait.
The claims spread quickly on social media platforms amid the ongoing U.S.-led Operation Epic Fury against Iran.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) swiftly poked holes in the reports in a clear statement on X, declaring the claims false and terming them an element of a broader Iranian disinformation effort.
“Rumors are again circulating about a U.S. F-15 being shot down over Kuwait. They are NOT TRUE,” CENTCOM wrote.
CENTCOM emphasized that since the ongoing war in the Middle East started late last month, no single U.S. jet has been downed by Iran.
“The disinformation campaign from the Iranian regime is rampant. Lies about U.S. aircraft being shot down by Iran have been circulated multiple times on different platforms using fake or misleading imagery. To be clear: No U.S. fighter aircraft have been shot down by Iran.”
The U.S. military also showed images that were shared by various pro-Iran media outlets. They reported that the defenses in Iran had successfully shot down a third fighter jet belonging to American forces.
Some accounts linked the footage to Iranian news outlets like Mehr News and Press TV, which earlier suggested an F-15 had been intercepted near Iranian airspace before falling across the border.
Three U.S. F-15 Fighter Jets Downed in Kuwait
This latest speculation comes a few weeks after a confirmed event that happened earlier in the month.
On March 1, three U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles were accidentally downed by Kuwaiti air defenses during active combat operations tied to Iran’s missile and drone attacks on U.S. and allied positions.
Also Read: U.S. Military Breaks Silence on Iran F-15 Jet Shootdown Claim
It was also confirmed that all six crew members ejected safely and were recovered in stable condition, according to CENTCOM and Kuwaiti officials.
That friendly-fire event, described by the Pentagon as a tragic mistake amid chaotic skies crowded with Iranian projectiles, marked one of the largest single-day aircraft losses for the U.S. Air Force in recent memory.
The pilots parachuted to safety. There were videos showing their descent to safety. In one video, a pilot was seen telling inquisitive onlookers that he was harmless. He then urged the onlookers to contact the U.S. military or any nearby friendly forces.
Iranian military spokespeople and media have repeatedly claimed direct shootdowns of American jets, including F-15s, F-16s, F-35s, and even Patriot systems in Bahrain.
Such claims have been denied by the U.S. time and again. In previous statements, CENTCOM has highlighted that thousands of combat sorties have been conducted by the U.S. military without any confirmed losses to enemy fire.
Meanwhile, experts have questioned whether Tehran possesses the long-range, integrated air defense capability needed to down a high-performance U.S. fighter at a significant range without leaving clear evidence.
Also Read: Iran Confirms ‘Shooting Down’ Another U.S. Fighter Jet
U.S. and Israeli strikes have targeted Iranian military infrastructure, while Tehran has retaliated with barrages of ballistic missiles, drones, and naval actions in the Strait of Hormuz.
President Donald Trump on Monday asked the military to put on hold its plan to strike Iran’s power plants. He said there are ongoing positive talks with Iran. However, Iranian officials claimed that no talks took place over the weekend and framed Trump’s move as a way to buy time.
Civilian energy markets remain jittery over likely disruptions to global oil flows.
Pentagon officials have not commented further beyond the CENTCOM post on social media.
An investigation into the March 1 friendly-fire incident remains underway, with lessons intended to prevent repeats in the complex multinational theater.
