All six crew members aboard a United States military refuelling aircraft have been confirmed dead after their plane crashed in western Iraq during a combat mission, according to US Central Command (Centcom).
The aircraft, a KC-135 Stratotanker, went down on Thursday while supporting ongoing US operations in the region. Military officials said search and rescue teams initially recovered four bodies before locating the remaining two crew members later.
Centcom confirmed that none of the crew survived the crash. Their identities have not yet been released as officials continue the process of notifying the victims’ families.
Early statements from the US military stressed that the aircraft was not brought down by hostile fire. Officials also ruled out friendly fire as a cause of the crash, although the exact circumstances remain under investigation.
The aircraft had been flying as part of a mission alongside another US military plane. While the KC-135 crashed, the second aircraft involved in the operation landed safely without incident.
General Dan Caine, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during a press briefing on Friday that the aircraft was operating on a combat mission at the time of the crash.
“Our airmen were conducting a mission essential to ongoing operations,” Caine said, adding that the loss of the crew was a devastating blow to the US military.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the fallen service members as “American heroes,” praising their dedication and service. He said their deaths would strengthen the US commitment to its current military mission.
“Their sacrifice will only recommit us to the resolve of this mission,” Hegseth said in a statement released after the confirmation of all six fatalities.
The KC-135 Stratotanker is a crucial part of the United States Air Force’s aerial refuelling fleet. Designed to refuel military aircraft mid-air, the tanker allows fighter jets, bombers and surveillance aircraft to remain in the air for extended periods without landing.
The aircraft typically carries a crew of at least three members — a pilot, a co-pilot and a boom operator who controls the refuelling arm used to transfer fuel to other aircraft during flight.
Originally built by Boeing in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the KC-135 has served for decades as a backbone of US air operations. The aircraft was widely used during the Gulf War and in multiple military campaigns across the Middle East.
Despite its age, the platform continues to play a key role in modern air operations, enabling long-range missions and extending the reach of combat aircraft.
The crash occurred over what US officials described as friendly airspace in western Iraq. However, the area has seen activity from pro-Iranian militias in recent years, raising speculation about whether the aircraft may have been targeted.
Iranian state television reported that an allied militia group had claimed responsibility for shooting down the aircraft with a missile. US military officials have not confirmed that claim and maintain that no hostile fire has been identified.
Investigators are continuing to analyze flight data and operational details to determine the exact cause of the crash.
The incident marks another setback for US military forces involved in the growing conflict involving Iran and Israel. The United States has increased its military presence in the region as tensions have escalated.
With the deaths confirmed, the official US military death toll connected to the ongoing US-Israel war with Iran has now risen to 13.
The US military has also suffered additional equipment losses during the conflict. Earlier this month, three F-15 fighter jets were lost in what officials described as an apparent friendly fire incident over Kuwait.
In that case, all six crew members were able to eject safely before the aircraft were destroyed.
Meanwhile, the broader regional situation continues to intensify. Israel’s military said it launched a new wave of large-scale strikes targeting Iranian infrastructure in and around Tehran on Friday.
Explosions were reported near the Iranian capital shortly afterward, according to regional media reports.
Economic tensions have also risen alongside the fighting. Oil prices surged above $100 per barrel after several cargo vessels were struck in the Gulf and Iran threatened to continue blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route.
US President Donald Trump suggested the conflict could end soon, saying the spike in oil prices may push parties toward a resolution. However, he also warned that the United States could escalate its involvement if necessary.
In a separate development, France’s military announced that one of its soldiers was killed and six others wounded in a drone strike at a Kurdish military base in northern Iraq.
The soldier, identified as Staff Sergeant Arnaud Frion, had been stationed at the base as part of a mission to train Iraqi military units.
As investigations into the KC-135 crash continue, US officials say they remain focused on supporting the families of the fallen airmen while maintaining ongoing operations in the region.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members