U.S. Military Refueling Plane Crashes in Iraq Amid Iran Offensive

WASHINGTON (AP) — An American military refueling plane participating in operations against Iran crashed in Iraq on Thursday, with rescue efforts underway, U.S. Central Command confirmed. The number of casualties remains unclear.

Details of the Incident

A U.S. Official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated the downed KC-135 aircraft had at least five crew members aboard. U.S. Central Command described the incident as “a loss” and reported that two aircraft were involved, with one landing safely in western Iraq. A second U.S. Official, too speaking anonymously, confirmed the other aircraft involved was also a KC-135 tanker.

“More information will be made available as the situation develops,” Central Command said. “We request for continued patience to gather additional details and provide clarity for the families of service members.”

Fourth Aircraft Loss in the Conflict

This crash marks the fourth publicly acknowledged aircraft loss since the start of the U.S. Military’s operations against Iran. Last week, three American F-15 fighter jets were mistakenly downed by friendly fire from Kuwait’s air defenses. All six crew members safely ejected and were reported in stable condition.

Casualties and Ongoing Conflict

To date, seven American troops have been killed in combat during the Iran war, with approximately 140 U.S. Service members injured, including eight severely, the Pentagon reported earlier this week. Both President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have warned that the war with Iran is likely to result in further American casualties.

Six of the fallen service members were killed when an Iranian drone struck an operations center at a civilian port in Kuwait. They were Army Reserve soldiers responsible for logistics. The seventh American service member died after being wounded during a March 1 attack on the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.

KC-135 Tanker Details

The KC-135 tanker involved in the latest crash is based on the same design as the Boeing 707 airliner and has been in military service for over 60 years. The aircraft have undergone numerous retrofits and upgrades throughout their service life. Typically, a KC-135 tanker has a crew of three, though the reason for the additional crew members aboard the flight remains unclear.

According to a report from the Congressional Research Service, the Air Force operated 376 KC-135s last year, including 151 on active duty, 163 in the Air National Guard, and 62 in the Air Force Reserve.

Iran’s Response

Iran’s security chief, Ali Larijani, stated that Tehran would make the U.S. “sorry” for starting the war in Iran, according to CNBC. He added, “Trump says he is looking for a speedy victory. While starting a war is easy, it cannot be won with a few tweets.”