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Six crew members aboard a U.S. military refueling aircraft have been confirmed dead following a crash in western Iraq on Thursday. The incident involved another aircraft but was not caused by hostile or friendly fire, according to the military. The fatalities increase the overall US military toll in operations against Iran that started on February 28, with at least seven American service members previously killed.
A U.S. official informed Reuters that the second aircraft involved, which landed safely, was also a KC-135 refueling plane. The United States has deployed numerous aircraft to the Middle East for operations targeting Iran, and this event underscores the dangers faced not only during active missions but also during refueling in midair.
The KC-135, developed by Boeing in the 1950s and early 1960s, remains a vital component of the US military’s aerial refueling capability, enabling aircraft to complete missions without landing. Meanwhile, an Iran-backed coalition claimed responsibility for shooting down the military aircraft.
Reuters reported on Tuesday that approximately 150 U.S. troops had been wounded in the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict against Iran. The news of the crash coincides with injuries to two U.S. sailors following a non-combat fire aboard the USS Gerald Ford. In addition, seven U.S. service members lost their lives when a drone struck a U.S. military installation in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait.
President Donald Trump and other top officials have warned that the conflict with Iran could lead to more American military casualties as Tehran retaliates against U.S. and Israeli actions.
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