In an unsettling development amid the US-Israel conflict with Iran, a United States military refueling aircraft has crashed in western Iraq. Efforts to rescue those involved are currently in progress, as confirmed by a US military spokesperson on Thursday.
The plane was engaged in military operations against Iran. However, officials have clarified that the crash was not a result of any hostile or friendly fire. The incident, which involved two aircraft, has been described by US Central Command as a significant loss.
The command, which is responsible for overseeing operations in the Middle East, elaborated in a statement that the mishap occurred while the aircraft were flying in friendly airspace as part of Operation Epic Fury. “Rescue efforts are ongoing,” added the spokesperson.
While one aircraft unfortunately went down in western Iraq, the other managed to land safely, preserving the safety of its crew. The circumstances surrounding the crash are under investigation as the military works to uncover the cause of this unfortunate event.
‘The incident occurred in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury, and rescue efforts are ongoing,’ a spokesperson said.
‘One of the aircraft went down in western Iraq, and the second landed safely.’
A US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a developing situation, said the other plane involved also was a KC-135 tanker.
‘More information will be made available as the situation develops,’ Central Command added.
A United States Air Force refueling plane has gone down in Iraq during the US-Israel conflict with Iran. Pictured: A US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker refueling a Navy Super Hornet during Operation Epic Fury earlier Thursday
Smoke rises from the site of a drone crash on the outskirts of Erbil, Iraq
‘We ask for continued patience to gather additional details and provide clarity for the families of service members.’
The typical KC-135 refueling craft needs a three-person crew to operate, according to the Air Force.
A KC-135 tanker declared an emergency before attempting to land in Tel Aviv Thursday evening, according to FlightRadar24.
The tanker is the fourth aircraft to crash as part of the US military’s operations against Iran.
Last week, the military confirmed that three American fighter jets were mistakenly downed by friendly fire in Kuwait.
All six crew members safely ejected from the F-15E Strike Eagles and were in stable condition after being recovered, the US said.
Seven American troops have been killed in combat during the Iran war so far. Six of the service members were killed when an Iranian drone struck an operations center at a civilian port in Kuwait.
Elsewhere today, Iran insisted it is not laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz after an expert warned unmanned naval attack drones could ‘create havoc’ along the vital waterway.
A US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a developing situation, said the other plane involved also was a KC-135 tanker
A Kuwaiti pilot flying an American-made fighter jet mistakenly shot down three US F-15 planes amid a friendly fire blunder, it has been revealed. In this image, a US airman who parachuted out of his jet can be seen backing up after he was mistook for an Iranian pilot by Kuwaiti locals
The country’s deputy foreign minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi said: ‘Some countries have already talked to us about passing the Strait and we have cooperated with them.’
But he issued a warning to nations which ‘joined the aggression’, arguing they should not expect to ‘benefit from safe passage’.
The country has recently claimed its arsenal of unmanned naval attack drones is ‘huge’ and BBC’s diplomatic correspondent Paul Adams said today: ‘If [Iran] can continue to deploy them without being detected and destroyed, then its ability to create havoc in one of the world’s most important waterways could last for some time.’
The seventh died after being wounded during an attack on the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.
About 140 US service members have been wounded, including eight severely, the Pentagon said earlier this week.
As the operation in Iran heads into its third week, Donald Trump said Thursday the war is moving ‘very rapidly’ even as Tehran’s new leader vowed defiance in his first public message.
‘The situation with Iran is moving along very rapidly. It’s doing very well, our military is unsurpassed,’ Trump said at the White House.
‘They really are a nation of terror and hate, and they’re paying a big price right now,’ added the US leader.
