Several American military aircraft went down in Kuwait on Monday morning amid escalating hostilities in the Gulf, but all crew members survived, the country’s defence authorities have confirmed.
In a statement, a spokesman for Kuwait’s Ministry of Defence disclosed that the affected warplanes crashed during ongoing security operations, adding that investigations had commenced to determine the immediate cause of the incident.
The ministry explained that emergency teams were swiftly deployed to the scene, where they evacuated the airmen and conveyed them to a medical facility for proper assessment. Officials assured that the personnel are in stable condition.
An AFP correspondent reported seeing thick black smoke rising near the United States Embassy in Kuwait City, although there was no official confirmation that the diplomatic facility was directly struck.
The latest development comes as Iran continued a third consecutive day of retaliatory strikes across parts of the Gulf, targeting locations linked to American military presence and allied interests.
Security sources indicated that a U.S. military base and a power facility were among the sites affected, marking one of the most serious security situations the oil-rich Gulf state has faced in decades.
Explosions were also reported in other Gulf capitals, including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha and Manama, as the regional crisis widened following the reported killing of Iran’s supreme leader in earlier U.S.-Israeli operations.
Despite visible smoke near the embassy area, the U.S. mission in Kuwait issued a security advisory urging citizens to avoid the premises, citing the risk of missile and drone attacks. The statement noted that embassy staff were taking shelter as a precaution.
Regional authorities confirmed that the ongoing exchanges have resulted in at least five fatalities across Gulf countries so far, including one reported death in Kuwait.
In northern Kuwait, witnesses observed smoke rising from a power station after what officials described as shrapnel damage during efforts to intercept incoming drones. The Energy Ministry stated that the incident caused a limited fire but did not significantly disrupt electricity supply.
Iran’s military later announced that it had launched cruise missiles at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, which hosts U.S. forces, and also targeted vessels in the Indian Ocean as part of its broader response.
Separately, Kuwait National Petroleum Company confirmed that debris fell within the Mina Al Ahmadi refinery complex, injuring two workers, though operations continued without interruption.
Air raid sirens sounded across Kuwait City at dawn as security agencies intercepted a number of unmanned aerial vehicles, according to the Interior Ministry.
Residents expressed concern over the worsening situation. One Kuwait City engineer said she hurried to purchase fuel and essential supplies, fearing further escalation.
On Sunday, authorities in the United Arab Emirates reported that falling debris struck part of Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi, causing minor injuries to a woman and a child.
The sustained bombardment has affected not only military targets but also civilian infrastructure, including residential areas, hotels, airports and seaports, raising anxiety in a region long regarded as relatively insulated from major Middle East conflicts.
