US Military Tanker Aircraft Crashes in Iraq; US Claims No Iranian Attack

The United States stated that its aircraft crashed in western Iraq. The US claimed the aircraft did not fall due to Iranian attack.

According to Aljazeera on Friday, 13 March 2026, US Central Command, which oversees operations in the Middle East, issued a statement announcing the aircraft’s crash. The announcement also mentioned that rescue efforts for the aircraft crew are currently underway.

There is no direct indication of whether there are fatalities or survivors.

“US Central Command is aware of the loss of the US KC-135 refuelling aircraft,” the statement said.

“The incident occurred in allied airspace during Operation Epic Fury, and rescue efforts are ongoing,” it added.

The crash is suspected of involving two aircraft, possibly colliding or performing a close manoeuvre. The second aircraft, it said, “landed safely”. They also stated the aircraft did not fall due to Iranian attack.

“This is not due to enemy fire or allied fire,” the statement added.

Before the aircraft crash, the US military had reported that seven military personnel were killed in the ongoing conflict. A further 140 were injured.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell mentioned that eight people sustained severe injuries. Thursday’s crash is the latest incident affecting US military personnel since operations against Iran began on 28 February.

Previously, three fighter jets had been shot down in a friendly fire incident on 1 March, just one day after the conflict began.

Central Command explained that the jets, three F-15E Strike Eagles, “were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defences” during active combat circumstances, when Iran launched retaliatory strikes across much of the Middle East. In that incident, six aircraft personnel successfully ejected and were evacuated in stable condition.