Iranian Pilots Recount Deception Operation in the Bombing of a U.S. Base in Kuwait

Iranian Air Force (IAF) personnel recounted an operation in early March that caused widespread destruction to a U.S. base in Kuwaiti besides the downing of three U.S. F-15 Jets in “friendly fire.”

According to an interview given to Iranian TV by the commander of the operation and two crewmembers on June 16, the mission was a tightly coordinated, high-risk penetration strike executed at extremely low altitude and completed within roughly 50 minutes.

The operation commander said the mission originated in direct response to renewed aggression targeting the nation. "We immediately wanted to carry out a retaliatory operation," he stated, identifying Camp Buehring (in Kuwait) as "a strategic base with one of the highest troop concentrations and capacities."

Two Iranian F-5 Jets flew beneath powerlines and ship masts

According to his account, the strike package consisted of three pilots flying on board two F-5 fighters at exceptionally low altitude from the outset to evade radars.

He emphasized the extreme nature of the flight profile.

"We were practically skimming the ground… We would even pass beneath power lines," he continued.He contrasted this with standard training parameters, noting, "The training standard is about 500 feet, but we were flying below 50 feet."

The commander described the mission as being conducted in complete radio silence, despite the presence of layered air defenses, including Patriot missile systems, AWACS surveillance, and scrambled fighter jets.He further illustrated the intensity of the ingress by recounting a maritime passage.

"We passed between two vessels so low that their decks were higher than us… The sailors had to come down and look over the railings just to see us pass beneath them," he stated.

Iranian pilot saw U.S.helicopters being thrown up in the sky

Once inside Kuwaiti airspace, the formation accelerated towards the target. The commander said the strike required direct overflight over the targets due to the use of free-fall bombs."We had to fly directly over the target… As soon as we reached the base, we carried out the bombing," he added.

He described widespread destruction at the site and said airborne assets were also extensively affected during the engagement phase, with enemy helicopters being thrown up into the air from the explosion.

He further stated that scrambling enemy aircraft and air defense systems became entangled in the unfolding operation, noting that "three [enemy] F-15 aircraft… were mistakenly engaged and destroyed simultaneously."

The report verified events that unfolded on March 1, when Kuwait mistakenly downed three such warplanes, using the US-provided Patriot missile system.

Following the strike, the commander described a deliberate deception maneuver designed to avoid interception."

After the bombing, we carried out a deception maneuver… They were unable to track or intercept us," he noted.The aircraft then returned safely to the Iranian airspace and proceeded to a designated follow-on base.Other crewmembers reinforced the operational tone of determination and endurance.