A US military plane crash in Iraq has killed four American service members, while rescue teams continue searching for two missing crew members. The incident happened in western Iraq on Thursday, according to the US military.
Officials confirmed that six crew members were on board the aircraft. Four were found dead after the US military plane crash in Iraq, and efforts are ongoing to locate the remaining two.
The US military said the aircraft involved was a refuelling plane. The US military plane crash in Iraq reportedly involved another aircraft during the operation.
However, US Central Command stated that the crash was not caused by hostile fire or friendly fire. Authorities said the exact cause of the incident is still under investigation.
A US official told Reuters that the second aircraft involved landed safely. It was also a military refuelling plane known as the KC-135.
The KC-135 aircraft has been a key part of the US military’s air refuelling fleet for decades. It allows fighter jets and other aircraft to continue missions without landing for fuel.
While US officials described the US military plane crash in Iraq as an accident, Iranian sources gave a different version.
Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters claimed the aircraft was deliberately targeted by Iranian air defence systems. According to the statement, the aircraft was shot down over western Iraq.
The incident comes during rising tensions between the United States and Iran. The US has deployed many aircraft to the Middle East for operations linked to the conflict.
Military experts say the US military plane crash in Iraq also highlights the risks of aerial refuelling operations during active military missions.
The crash adds to the growing number of American casualties linked to the ongoing conflict. Earlier, seven US troops were killed after a drone hit a US military facility in Kuwait.
Reports also said around 150 US troops have been wounded during recent military operations connected to the Iran conflict.
On the same day as the crash, two US sailors were injured after a fire broke out on the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier.
US President Donald Trump and other officials have warned that further casualties are possible as tensions in the region continue.
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