March 13, 2026 | News | SUNTV Global Channel
The United States military has confirmed the loss of a KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft during operations over Iraq, but insists the incident was not caused by hostile fire despite claims from armed groups that they shot down the plane.
In a statement released late Thursday, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said the aircraft went down in western Iraq while participating in a military mission known as Operation Epic Fury.
According to the command, two aircraft were involved in the incident during the operation.
“One of the aircraft went down in western Iraq, and the second landed safely,” the statement said.
CENTCOM stressed that the crash occurred in friendly airspace and was not the result of hostile or friendly fire.
“This was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire,” the command stated, adding that search and rescue efforts for the crew were immediately launched.
Military officials said additional information would be released once investigations provide clearer details about the circumstances surrounding the incident.
However, the U.S. explanation was quickly disputed by a coalition of Shia armed groups operating under the banner of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq.
In a statement posted on Telegram, the group claimed its fighters successfully shot down the American refueling aircraft while defending Iraqi airspace.
“Protecting our country and its airspace, supporters of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq downed the KC-135 plane of the U.S. Air Force,” the group said.
The militia group did not disclose what type of weapon was used but said the aircraft was destroyed using what it described as “suitable weapons.”
The group also claimed responsibility for a second attack on another U.S. military aircraft, stating that while it targeted another KC-135, the crew managed to land the plane safely at an airfield.
According to the militia statement, the second incident reportedly occurred over western regions of Iran.
So far, the U.S. military has not confirmed these claims and maintains that the crash was not caused by an attack.
The KC-135 Stratotanker is a vital aircraft used by the U.S. Air Force to refuel fighter jets and other military planes mid-air, significantly extending their operational range during combat and support missions.
The incident comes amid rising tensions across the Middle East, where Iran-aligned militias have stepped up threats and attacks against U.S. military interests.
Armed groups in Iraq have previously launched drone and missile strikes against American bases, saying their actions are aimed at forcing the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the country.
Security analysts say the conflicting narratives surrounding the aircraft loss highlight the increasingly volatile situation in regional airspace as tensions between the United States and Iran-backed militias continue to escalate.
As of the time of filing this report, CENTCOM had not released further details about the crew members aboard the aircraft or the exact cause of the crash.
— SUNTV Global Channel Reporting 🌍🛰️📰
