U.S. military officials are continuing their investigation into the crash of a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft in western Iraq, an incident that has added to the growing number of American casualties linked to the ongoing conflict with Iran.
In a statement posted on social media, United States Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that the aircraft’s loss was not caused by hostile or friendly fire. Officials said the crash remains under investigation.
Military authorities also said the names of the service members killed will be withheld until at least 24 hours after their families have been notified, in accordance with U.S. Department of Defense policy.
Rising Casualties in the Conflict
The latest fatalities bring the total number of U.S. service members killed since the war with Iran began on February 28 to 13, according to military officials.
Among those casualties are six American troops killed in an Iranian strike on Kuwait and one service member killed in Saudi Arabia, underscoring the expanding regional impact of the conflict.
Possible Mid-Air Collision Being Investigated
U.S. officials told CBS News that investigators believe the crash may have involved a mid-air collision, though the cause has not yet been confirmed.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed the incident during a news conference at the Pentagon on Friday.
“War is hell, war is chaos, and as we saw yesterday with the tragic crash of our KC-135 tanker, bad things can happen,” Hegseth said. “American heroes, all of them.”
Crew Was on Combat Mission
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, confirmed that the aircraft’s crew was flying a combat mission over friendly territory when the crash occurred.
“Please keep these brave airmen, their families, friends and units in your thoughts in the coming hours and days,” Caine said. “Our service members make an incredible sacrifice to go forward and do the things that the nation asks of them.”
Second Aircraft Landed Safely
Officials said a second U.S. KC-135 tanker aircraft was also involved in the same incident but managed to land safely after sustaining damage.
According to flight tracking service Flightradar24, a KC-135 tanker declared an emergency before landing in Tel Aviv on Thursday evening.
The crashed aircraft reportedly went down near Turaibil, an area along the Iraq–Jordan border, according to an Iraqi intelligence source familiar with the incident.
Fourth Aircraft Loss Linked to Operation Epic Fury
The crash marks the fourth publicly acknowledged U.S. aircraft incident tied to Operation Epic Fury, the joint military campaign launched by the United States and Israel targeting Iranian military capabilities.
Earlier in the week, the U.S. military confirmed that three F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets were shot down in a friendly-fire incident involving Kuwait. All six crew members aboard those aircraft were able to eject safely.
Recovery Mission Underway
After military aircraft crashes, the U.S. armed forces typically launch specialized rescue operations known as Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP) missions.
These missions rapidly deploy military forces to secure crash sites, recover crew members, and retrieve or destroy sensitive equipment before it can fall into enemy hands. Such operations can be dangerous, particularly in active conflict zones.
Defense officials say further details about the crash will be released once investigators determine the exact cause of the incident.

Credit: CBS News