KATHMANDU – Amidst escalating tensions in West Asia, a US military refueling aircraft has crashed in Iraq. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) provided details regarding the incident, confirming that the aircraft involved was a KC-135 Stratotanker participating in ongoing military operations against Iran. Preliminary reports indicate that the crash was not caused by enemy fire or a targeted attack.
According to US Central Command, which monitors military activities in the region, two aircraft were involved in the mission. While one aircraft managed to land safely, the other crashed in western Iraq. The military has officially categorized the loss as a “military casualty” or equipment loss. While a standard KC-135 crew typically consists of three to four members—including a pilot, co-pilot, and boom operator—clear information regarding the number of fatalities in this specific incident has not yet been released.
This marks the fourth publicly confirmed aircraft crash during current US military operations in the region. This incident follows a report from last week where the US military confirmed that three American fighter jets were accidentally downed by “friendly fire” from allied Kuwaiti forces. In that previous case, all six crew members of the F-15E Strike Eagles were able to eject safely and remain in stable condition.
According to the US Department of Defense, the ongoing conflict has resulted in the deaths of seven US service members to date. Approximately 140 others have been injured, with eight of those individuals reported to be in critical condition.
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