- According to the statement, the aircraft involved was a KC-135 Stratotanker used for mid-air refuelling missions
- Officials added that the crash was not caused by enemy fire or friendly fire
- All six crew members aboard those fighter jets ejected safely and were later rescued in stable condition
The United States has confirmed that one of its military aircraft crashed in western Iraq during the ongoing joint military campaign with Israel against Iran.
In a statement released on Thursday, Eko Hot Blog gathered that the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), which manages U.S. military operations across the Middle East and parts of Asia, acknowledged the incident and said search and rescue operations were underway.
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According to the statement, the aircraft involved was a KC-135 Stratotanker used for mid-air refuelling missions. Authorities did not immediately confirm whether there were casualties or survivors.
CENTCOM said the crash occurred within friendly airspace while the aircraft was participating in an operation known as “Operation Epic Fury.” The military also indicated that another aircraft involved in the incident managed to land safely.
Officials added that the crash was not caused by enemy fire or friendly fire, though the wording of the statement suggested that the aircraft may have been operating very close to another plane, possibly leading to a collision or another form of operational mishap.
The incident adds to the growing list of setbacks for the U.S. military since the conflict with Iran began on February 28. Prior to the crash, the Pentagon had already reported that seven American service members had died during the campaign.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said about 140 U.S. troops have also been injured since the start of hostilities, including eight personnel suffering serious wounds.
Earlier in the conflict, three F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft were lost in what the military described as a friendly-fire incident on March 1, just one day after fighting began.
According to CENTCOM, the jets were mistakenly shot down by air defence systems in Kuwait during an intense combat situation as Iran launched retaliatory strikes across the region.
All six crew members aboard those fighter jets ejected safely and were later rescued in stable condition.
Meanwhile, the war with Iran has sparked significant debate within the United States. Several public opinion surveys indicate that many Americans oppose the military action.
A poll released on March 9 by Quinnipiac University found that 53 percent of voters disapproved of the offensive against Iran.
An even larger majority, about 74 percent, said they were against deploying U.S. ground troops in the conflict.
Similar results were reported by the research firm Ipsos, which found that 43 percent of Americans surveyed opposed the strikes, compared with 29 percent who supported them. Others said they were undecided.
The war has also divided supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly defended the military campaign as essential for protecting American national security.
However, some conservative figures have expressed doubts. Media personality Tucker Carlson publicly criticised the conflict, suggesting that Trump may have received misleading information from advisers about public support.
Carlson described the war in strong terms during an interview with ABC News, calling it “absolutely disgusting and evil.”
Trump has dismissed such criticism, even from figures associated with his political base. Responding to Carlson’s remarks, the president insisted that his “Make America Great Again” movement prioritises American interests and suggested Carlson no longer represents those values.
Despite the administration’s defence of the campaign, officials have offered different explanations for the decision to attack Iran.
At various times, Trump has argued that military action was necessary to prevent a potential nuclear conflict or because diplomatic efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear programme had failed.
Earlier this month, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also indicated that the strike partly stemmed from the expectation that Israel was preparing to launch its own military action against Iran, though he later walked back those comments.
Since the conflict began, the human toll has continued to rise. Reports indicate that more than 1,300 people have been killed in Iran, while at least 15 deaths have been recorded in Israel. Another 17 fatalities have been reported in nearby Gulf countries as the violence spreads across the region.
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