US KC-135 Military Aircraft Crashes In Iraq During Operation Epic Fury, CENTCOM Confirms
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Last Updated:March 13, 2026, 07:26 IST
CENTCOM, which oversees the Middle East, said in a statement that two KC-135 Stratotanker refuelling aircraft were involved in the incident.
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The US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Thursday confirmed that a US KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq during Operation Epic Fury. The incident took place not due to hostile fire or friendly fire, and rescue efforts are ongoing.
CENTCOM, which oversees the Middle East, said in a statement that two KC-135 Stratotanker refuelling aircraft were involved in the incident. One of the aircraft went down in western Iraq, while the second landed safely.
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U.S. Central Command is aware of the loss of a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft. The incident occurred in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury, and rescue efforts are ongoing. Two aircraft were involved in the incident. One of the aircraft went down in western Iraq, and the…— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 12, 2026
As of now, it is unclear whether the pilot and crew members survived the crash.
Iran-Backed Iraqi Group Claims Responsibility
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed armed factions, claimed responsibility for downing the US military refueling aircraft in western Iraq.
The group said in a statement it had shot down the KC-135 aircraft “in defense of our country’s sovereignty and airspace".
Over 150 US Troops Injured In US-Iran war
Since the beginning of the US and Israeli strikes against Iran from February 28, seven US troops have been killed. Reuters on Tuesday reported that as many as 150 US troops have been wounded in the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Iran has launched retaliatory strikes against US military bases since the start of the conflict on February 28. It has also struck diplomatic missions in Arab Gulf states as well as hotels and airports and damaged oil infrastructure.
The Pentagon says the number of Iranian strikes has fallen sharply since the start of the war, as the US military bombs Iran’s weapons inventories and targets Iran’s more limited number of missile launchers.
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