- A US military refueling plane crashed in western Iraq on Thursday.
- Iran-backed group claims responsibility for downing US planes.
- At least 150 American soldiers have been injured so far in the US-Israel war against Iran.
WASHINGTON: All six crew members aboard a U.S. military refueling plane that crashed in western Iraq are confirmed dead, the U.S. military said Friday.
A U.S. military refueling plane crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, in an incident the military said involved another plane but was not the result of hostile or friendly fire.
The deaths are in addition to seven US service members who have already died as part of US operations against Iran that began on February 28.
“The circumstances of the incident are under investigation. However, the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile or friendly fire,” a statement from US Central Command said.
A US official said Reuters that the second plane involved in the accident, which landed safely, was also a military refueling plane known as the KC-135.
The United States has deployed large numbers of aircraft to the Middle East to participate in operations against Iran and the incident highlights the risk not only of the operations, but also of refueling aircraft in the air.
The KC-135, built by Boeing BA.N in the 1950s and early 1960s, has served as the backbone of the U.S. military’s aerial refueling fleet and is instrumental in allowing aircraft to carry out missions without having to land.
Meanwhile, a group of Iranian-backed armed factions claimed responsibility for the downing of the US military refueling plane.
Reuters reported Tuesday that up to 150 American soldiers have been wounded in the US-Israel war against Iran. News of the accident comes the same day two U.S. sailors were injured after the USS Gerald Ford suffered a non-combat-related onboard fire.
The first seven US soldiers were killed when a drone crashed into a US military facility in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait.
President Donald Trump and other top officials have warned that the conflict with Iran will result in more US military deaths as Tehran retaliates against US and Israeli attacks.
