US Refueling Aircraft Crashes in Iraq During Iran Operation, Rescue Efforts Ongoing

A United States military refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq on Thursday during an operation linked to the ongoing conflict with Iran, with rescue efforts currently underway, the U.S. Central Command said.

According to a statement from the command, the incident involved another aircraft but was not caused by hostile or friendly fire. The crash occurred in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury, the U.S. military campaign targeting Iran.

The aircraft involved was a KC-135 refueling tanker, a long-serving aerial refueling platform that allows military jets to extend their missions without landing. Another aircraft involved in the incident landed safely.

A U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the second aircraft was also a KC-135 tanker and that the one that crashed had up to six service members on board.

Meanwhile, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed armed factions, claimed responsibility for shooting down the aircraft. In a statement, the group said it targeted the tanker “in defense of our country’s sovereignty and airspace.”

The KC-135 tanker, built by Boeing in the late 1950s and early 1960s and based on the design of the Boeing 707 airliner, has been a key component of the U.S. military’s aerial refueling fleet for more than six decades.

The crash comes amid intensified military activity in the region. Since the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28, seven U.S. troops have been killed while more than 150 others have reportedly been wounded.

U.S. forces have also carried out strikes on more than 6,000 targets in Iran during the ongoing conflict, which has so far claimed over 2,000 lives, including nearly 700 people in Lebanon.

The incident occurred the same day two U.S. sailors were injured following a non-combat-related fire aboard the USS Gerald Ford, further underscoring the mounting risks surrounding the conflict.