A U.S. F-15E fighter pilot who was shot down and rescued over Iran in April had previously survived being downed by friendly fire from Kuwaiti forces at the beginning of the Iran conflict, according to military sources.

Sources speaking to CBS News confirmed that the same pilot was flying one of the aircraft hit by Kuwaiti friendly fire during the initial days of the war. The pilot survived both incidents and was successfully rescued after the April downing over Iranian territory.

The April incident marked the second time the pilot had been shot down during the Iran conflict. Pentagon officials have not publicly identified the pilot or provided additional details about either incident.

Friendly fire incidents involving coalition forces have occurred in previous conflicts, though specific details about the Kuwaiti incident remain limited. The pilot's survival of two separate downings during the same conflict represents an unusual sequence of events.

The F-15E Strike Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather fighter aircraft used for both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. The aircraft has been deployed in various military operations in the Middle East region.