Kuwaiti F/A-18 Hornet pilot accidentally shot down three US F-15E Strike Eagles during an engagement Sunday, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal’s Lara Seligman. The incident occurred amid reports of Iranian drones infiltrating Kuwaiti airspace, with one impacting a base and killing six Americans. While the cause remains under investigation, the F/A-18 Hornet’s involvement raises concerns about friendly fire risks in multi-threat environments.

Sources claim the Hornet launched three missiles, causing catastrophic damage to the F-15Es’ vertical stabilizers and engines, though all pilots survived. Experts note that smaller-yield air-to-air weapons, like AIM-9 Sidewinders, align with the damage patterns described, particularly if deployed passively without radar assistance. This marks the second such friendly fire incident involving Kuwaiti forces in recent years, highlighting persistent challenges in distinguishing allies from adversaries amid overlapping threats.

The Wall Street Journal’s report, based on three unnamed sources, underscores the complexity of modern aerial combat and the heightened tensions in the Gulf region.