US carrying out rescue effort after losing aircraft in Iraq

A US military refuelling aircraft crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, in an incident US Central Command said involved another aircraft but was not the result of hostile or friendly fire.

The United States has surged a large number of aircraft into the Middle East to take part in operations against Iran.

In a statement, US Central Command said it was carrying out rescue efforts after the US KC-135 refuelling aircraft went down.

The second aircraft landed safely.

"The incident occurred in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury, and rescue efforts are ongoing," the statement said, using the name of the US operation against Iran.

U.S. Central Command is aware of the loss of a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft. The incident occurred in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury, and rescue efforts are ongoing. Two aircraft were involved in the incident. One of the aircraft went down in western Iraq, and the…

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 12, 2026

Since the US and Israel started carrying out strikes against Iran on February 28, seven US troops have been killed.

Reuters ​reported on Tuesday that as many as 150 US troops have been wounded in the war.