Baghdad: A United States military refuelling aircraft participating in operations linked to the conflict with Iran crashed in western Iraq, with rescue teams immediately launched to the crash site, officials said.
According to United States Central Command, the aircraft involved was a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker that had been supporting ongoing military operations in the region. The command confirmed that the aircraft’s loss was not the result of hostile fire or friendly fire.
Officials said two aircraft were part of the same mission. While one tanker landed safely, the second went down in a remote area of western Iraq. Search and rescue teams were quickly dispatched to locate the crew and assess the situation.
A U.S. official, speaking anonymously because the investigation is ongoing, said at least five personnel were on board the aircraft at the time of the crash. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether there were casualties.
The military described the incident as a significant loss but stressed that preliminary information indicates the crash was unrelated to combat operations.
The accident marks the fourth aircraft loss publicly reported since the United States intensified its campaign against Iran. Earlier this week, three American fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by forces from Kuwait during a friendly fire incident.
Central Command said additional details about the crash would be released once more information becomes available, adding that officials are working to provide clarity to the families of the service members involved.
The incident comes as the broader conflict in West Asia continues to escalate, placing additional strain on military operations across the region.
