March 13, 2026 | News | SUNTV Global Channel
Tensions in the Middle East have escalated sharply as Iran has claimed responsibility for shooting down a U.S. KC-135 Stratotanker over western Iraq, contradicting U.S. Central Command’s statement that the aircraft was lost in friendly airspace and not due to hostile fire.
The U.S. military confirmed that two KC-135 aircraft were involved in “Operation Epic Fury,” with one plane going down in Iraq and the second returning safely. CENTCOM has yet to verify Iran’s claims that all crew members aboard the downed aircraft, reportedly including three American pilots, perished.
A spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters stated that the aircraft was successfully targeted by Iranian-aligned air defence systems. Tehran also claimed that the second U.S. plane sustained heavy damage and was forced to make an emergency landing in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Iran’s state media further reported that the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier sustained heavy damage from missile strikes by the IRGC Navy, rendering it “non-operational” and forcing its retreat from the Persian Gulf. The U.S. Navy has not yet confirmed the extent of any damage.
The claims come amid a multi-front conflict that erupted after the February 28 U.S.-Israeli strikes on Tehran, which killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior officials. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has since launched retaliatory operations across the region.
Military analysts warn that the contradictory narratives may represent a sophisticated “information war,” with both sides seeking to control the story while the humanitarian and economic toll continues to rise.
According to the World Health Organization, over 1,800 people have died across Iran, Lebanon, and Israel since the escalation began, with regional health systems under immense strain.
As both military powers maintain strong postures, the international community watches closely to see whether diplomacy can prevent further collapse of regional stability.
— SUNTV Global Channel Reporting
