Four crew members have died after a United States military refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq, according to the United States Central Command.
The aircraft, identified as a Boeing KC‑135 Stratotanker, went down during operations linked to ongoing military activities in the region, leaving two other service members still unaccounted for as rescue efforts continue.
In a statement on Friday, CENTCOM said the incident occurred in what it described as “friendly airspace,” adding that the circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation.
Officials, however, clarified that the loss of the aircraft was not caused by hostile or friendly fire.
The military said the identities of the deceased crew members would not be released until at least 24 hours after their families had been notified.
CENTCOM earlier disclosed that two aircraft were involved in the incident. While one of the planes crashed in western Iraq, the second aircraft landed safely after the mid-air event.
Meanwhile, the Iran-aligned armed group known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for shooting down the aircraft, saying it used “appropriate weapons” to target the US military plane.
US officials have not confirmed the claim and insist the crash was not the result of enemy action.
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