Several US warplanes crashed in Kuwait, says defence ministry

Kuwait City: Several American warplanes crashed in Kuwait on Monday morning but their crew survived, Kuwait’s defence ministry said, as Iran pressed on with a third day of strikes in the Gulf.

“Several US warplanes crashed this morning. Confirming that all crew members survived,” a defence 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. He noted that their condition is stable,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, An AFP correspondent saw black smoke rising from the US embassy in Kuwait on Monday, with the diplomatic mission telling people not to come to the premises as Iran pressed on with a third day of Gulf attacks.

Sirens earlier sounded over the city following the latest volley of Iranian attacks in retaliation for US and Israeli strikes that killed the supreme leader and other top officials.

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,” it added.

Kuwait’s interior ministry said it intercepted an unspecified number of drones targeting the small, oil-rich country at dawn.

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

Earlier on Monday, AFP correspondents and residents heard loud explosions 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 sea ports, rattling a region long seen as a haven of peace and security in the turbulent Middle East.