WASHINGTON – Four of the six crew members aboard a US KC-135 refueling aircraft that crashed in western Iraq are confirmed to have been killed, the US military said Friday, as rescue efforts continued for the remaining two.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group for Iraq’s pro-Iranian militias, said Friday that its fighters targeted two US KC-135 refueling aircraft over western Iraq.
In two statements, the group said its fighters shot down one KC-135 “with appropriate weapons,” and a second aircraft of the same type was also struck before its crew made an emergency landing at “one of the enemy airports.”
US Central Command said on Thursday that a US KC-135 refueling aircraft went down in western Iraq.
“Two aircraft were involved in the incident. One of the aircraft went down in western Iraq, and the second landed safely,” the command said on X.
“The incident occurred in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury, and rescue efforts are ongoing,” said the command, adding that it was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.