Four of the six crew members aboard a U.S. military refueling aircraft that crashed in western Iraq early Friday have been confirmed dead, according to officials from United States Central Command (CENTCOM).
Rescue operations remain underway as authorities continue searching for the remaining crew members and investigating the cause of the crash involving the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, a key aerial refueling aircraft used by the United States Air Force.
Military officials said the aircraft went down during a mission connected to ongoing operations in the region. They also confirmed that the incident was not caused by hostile or friendly fire.
Investigation Underway
CENTCOM said the crash occurred in western Iraq during Operation Epic Fury, the joint U.S.–Israeli military campaign launched against Iran on February 28.
Earlier reports indicated that the tanker aircraft was involved in an unspecified “incident” with another U.S. aircraft shortly before the crash. The second aircraft was able to land safely at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel, according to military officials.
Sources familiar with the situation told The Washington Post that the second aircraft involved may also have been a KC-135 refueling tanker, though the circumstances surrounding the encounter remain under investigation.
Identities Withheld
The identities of the fallen service members have not yet been released. Military officials said their names will remain withheld until at least 24 hours after their families have been notified, in accordance with U.S. Department of Defense policy.
Conflicting Claims
Meanwhile, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iran-backed armed groups operating in the region, claimed responsibility for shooting down the aircraft.
In a statement, the group said it targeted the aircraft “in defense of our country’s sovereignty and airspace.”
However, U.S. military officials have so far not confirmed any hostile involvement in the crash, leaving the exact cause of the incident unclear.
Rising Casualties
The deaths bring the total number of U.S. service members killed in the current conflict to 11, as tensions continue to escalate across the Middle East.
Defense officials say further updates will be released as rescue teams complete their operations and investigators determine what led to the aircraft’s loss.

Credit: CBS News/Independent.co.uk