US KC-135 Refueling Aircraft Crashes in Iraq Amid Claims
A U.S. Central Command (CENTROM) confirmed the loss of a K C - 135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft in western Iraq, stating that two planes were involved but clarifying there was no hostile fire or missile strike to bring down either plane while noting all six crew members on board safely evacuated before being flown home.
Key Points
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1An Islamic Resistance group in Iraq claims responsibility for shooting down a US KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft and targeting another plane.
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2US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the loss of one 'KC-135 Stratotanker' but stated that hostile fire was not involved, contradicting militia reports.
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3Iran-backed groups claim all six crew members were safely evacuated following an alleged missile strike in western Iraq on Thursday evening.
Developments
An Islamic Resistance group claimed to shoot down a US KC-135 refueling aircraft over western Iraq while another plane made an emergency landing at Ben Gurion Airport; however, CENTCOM stated the crash occurred in friendly airspace without hostile fire and that six soldiers were on board. Meanwhile, Iranian officials reported killing all crew members with missiles fired by resistance groups following recent U.S.-Israel assaults on Iran.
CENTCOM stated it was an accident during "Epic Fury" operations in Iraq, denying hostile fire involvement while two aircraft were on mission; however, the Islamic Resistance claimed responsibility for shooting down one of its KC-135s after allegedly violating Iraqi airspace. This incident marks at least a fourth US aerial loss since recent military escalations and directly contradicts American accounts that attributed it to technical failure or friendly skies rather than combat operations.
US Central Command stated that an incident involving two Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker fueling aircraft on Thursday was not caused by hostile fire, contradicting claims of responsibility from the Iran-backed Islamic Resistance. While rescue operations are underway for at least five crew members aboard one plane and a second landed safely in Israel, officials confirmed both flights were operating within friendly airspace during an event still under investigation.