Key Points
- CENTCOM says crash not caused by hostile or friendly fire.
- Incident occurred during US operations against Iran on Thursday.
- Two aircraft involved; second plane landed safely.
- Crash happened over “friendly airspace” with active pro-Iran militias.
- Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for downing aircraft.
- US military death toll rises to 13 since Iran conflict.
- Earlier, three F-15s lost in friendly fire; all ejected safely.
ISLAMABAD: All six crew members aboard a US military KC-135 Stratotanker have been confirmed dead after the aircraft crashed in western Iraq, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Friday.
The tanker, a midair refuelling aircraft that extends the operational range of fighter jets and bombers, went down on Thursday during ongoing US operations against Iran. CENTCOM confirmed that neither hostile fire nor friendly fire was responsible for the crash.
Incident Details
CENTCOM said the KC-135 was one of two aircraft involved in the operation, with the second plane returning safely.
The crash occurred around 14:00 ET (19:00 GMT) on Thursday, in an area described as “friendly airspace,” though it is a region where pro-Iranian militias are active.
A search and rescue operation was immediately launched to locate the crew.
The identities of the deceased have not yet been released, pending notification of next of kin.
Gen. Dan Caine, chair of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, described the crash as occurring “while the crew was on a combat mission,” and US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth hailed the personnel as “American heroes,” saying their “sacrifice will only recommit us to the resolve of this mission.”
All Crew Members of U.S. KC-135 Loss in Iraq Confirmed Deceased
TAMPA, Fla. – All six crew members aboard a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft that went down in western Iraq are now confirmed deceased. The aircraft was lost while flying over friendly airspace March 12 during…
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 13, 2026
Claims of Responsibility
Iran’s state media reported that an allied group had targeted the plane with a missile, while the Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed it had shot down the KC-135 “with the appropriate weapon.”
CENTCOM has stated that investigations are ongoing to determine the exact circumstances.
Wider conflict context
The crash adds to rising US military casualties in the US-Israel–Iran conflict, which began two weeks ago.
The official death toll for US forces now stands at 13, with at least four aircraft lost during the current operations.
Earlier this month, three F-15E Strike Eagles were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defences in a friendly fire incident; all six crew members ejected safely.
In addition to combat losses, another US service member recently died in Kuwait due to a medical emergency, and roughly 140 troops have sustained injuries, eight of them serious, Pentagon officials said.
Impact and public opinion
Analysts note that the conflict is increasingly unpopular in the United States.
A March 9 Quinnipiac University survey found that 53 percent of voters oppose the military offensive against Iran, while 74 percent reject the idea of deploying ground forces.
Al Jazeera correspondent Patty Culhane in Washington said the Trump administration has sought to downplay the human cost of the conflict, which continues to escalate across the Middle East.
Iranian forces have launched missile and drone attacks in response to US and Israeli operations, resulting in over 1,400 deaths and more than 18,500 injuries within Iran, according to the Iranian Health Ministry.
The KC-135 Stratotanker
Manufactured by Boeing in the 1950s and early 1960s, the KC-135 has been a backbone of the US Air Force’s refuelling capabilities.
It allows combat aircraft to remain airborne longer without returning to base, and played a key role during the first Gulf War.
The crash underscores the growing risks for US personnel in the region, as tensions with Iran and allied militias continue to intensify.
