A U.S. military refuelling aircraft has crashed in western Iraq during an ongoing operation tied to the war with Iran, officials confirmed.
In a statement on Friday, March 13, United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said it is aware of the loss of a Boeing KC‑135 Stratotanker that went down during Operation Epic Fury, the large-scale campaign targeting Iranian military infrastructure.
The aircraft was operating in what CENTCOM described as friendly airspace when the incident occurred.
“U.S. Central Command is aware of the loss of a U.S. KC-135 refuelling aircraft. The incident occurred in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury, and rescue efforts are ongoing,” the command said.
Two U.S. military aircraft involved in a midair incident in Iraq
CENTCOM added that two aircraft were involved in the incident. One of the aircraft crashed in western Iraq, while the second aircraft landed safely.
The command emphasized that the crash was not caused by hostile fire or friendly fire, suggesting the incident may have been related to an operational or mechanical issue.
Authorities said further details would be released once rescue operations and investigations progress.
“Two aircraft were involved in the incident. One of the aircraft went down in western Iraq, and the second landed safely. This was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire. More information will be made available as the situation develops. We ask for continued patience to gather additional details and provide clarity for the families of service members.”
The number of crew members aboard the aircraft has not yet been publicly disclosed. The aircraft was participating in Operation Epic Fury, a military campaign launched on February 28, by the United States against Iranian military targets across the region.
According to military updates on Thursday, the operation has involved a wide range of U.S. air and naval assets, including strategic bombers, fighter jets, drones, and missile defense systems.
CENTCOM said the campaign has struck thousands of targets linked to Iranian military capabilities, including command centers, missile sites, and naval infrastructure.
Also Read: US Using Nuclear Powered Aircraft Carriers in War with Iran
As of March 10, at least seven U.S. service members had died during or from injuries sustained in the operation.
Regional security incidents continue
The crash comes amid a series of security incidents across Iraq tied to the wider conflict.
Earlier Thursday, the French military said six of its soldiers were wounded in a drone attack on a base in the Kurdistan region.
A member of the general staff told AFP that the troops were “engaged in training activities on counterterrorism with Iraqi partners,” adding the troops were taken to the nearest medical facility.
Separately, Iraqi authorities temporarily suspended operations at some oil terminals after an attack involving explosive-laden boats targeted fuel tankers in Iraqi waters.
Also Read: Iraq Joins Iran in Disrupting Global Oil Supply
According to the General Company for Ports of Iraq, the incident occurred during a ship-to-ship fuel transfer operation involving a tanker carrying petroleum products supplied by the State Organization for Marketing of Oil.
Rescue teams recovered 38 people from the scene while search efforts continued for missing crew members.
The vessels were located roughly 30 miles off the Iraqi coast when the explosion occurred.
Despite the suspension of tanker operations as a precaution, officials said commercial activity continues at Umm Qasr Port, Iraq’s main maritime gateway.
