United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has confirmed that six U.S. service members were killed after an American military aircraft crashed in western Iraq.
According to an official statement released by CENTCOM, the incident occurred on March 12 when a Boeing KC‑135 Stratotanker a U.S. Air Force aerial refueling aircraft, went down in the western region of Iraq. The aircraft was operating in the area during heightened regional tensions linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
CENTCOM confirmed that all six crew members on board the aircraft were killed in the crash. Rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the crash site, and recovery operations are currently underway.
The U.S. military emphasized that preliminary findings indicate the aircraft was not brought down by enemy fire or friendly fire. Officials stated that there is currently no evidence suggesting the crash was the result of hostile action.
Authorities have launched a formal investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident. Military officials said technical failure or other operational factors could be possible causes, but no conclusions have yet been reached.
CENTCOM added that further details will be released once the investigation progresses and more information becomes available.

