US KC-135 Refueling Aircraft Lost in Incident During Operation Epic Fury

CENTRAL COMMAND US, Mar 13: A US military refuelling aircraft crashed in western Iraq on Thursday during an incident involving another aircraft, according to the United States Central Command, which said the crash was not the result of hostile or friendly fire.

In a statement, the command said rescue operations were underway after a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker refuelling aircraft went down in what it described as an incident that occurred in friendly airspace. A second aircraft involved in the event landed safely.

“The incident occurred in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury,” the statement said, referring to the US military operation targeting Iran-linked threats in the region.

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the other aircraft involved was also a KC-135 refuelling tanker. The aircraft that crashed reportedly had up to six service members on board, though officials did not immediately confirm casualties.

Meanwhile, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed armed factions, claimed responsibility for the incident. In a statement, the group said it had shot down the KC-135 aircraft, describing the action as a response taken “in defence of our country’s sovereignty and airspace.”

US officials have not confirmed the group’s claim and said investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crash are ongoing.