Nigeria: US refueling aircraft crashes in western Iraq

By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria

A US KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq, while a second plane involved in the incident landed safely, according to the US military. The incident occurred during Operation Epic Fury, and rescue efforts are underway.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that the crash was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire. However, Iran’s military claimed that an allied group in Iraq downed the aircraft with a missile, killing all crew members.

This incident marks the fourth US military aircraft lost during the war, following three F-15s shot down by friendly fire over Kuwait. The KC-135 has been in operation for over 60 years and typically carries a crew of three, but can carry up to 37 passengers.