Four of six crew members on board a US KC-135 military aerial refuelling plane that crashed in western Iraq yesterday have been confirmed dead, US Central Command said Friday.
While the circumstances of the crash are still under investigation, USCentcom made clear on Friday that it was not caused by hostile fire or friendly fire.
The identities of the members who died are being withheld until their families can be notified, USCentcom said.
This plane was the fourth US aircraft lost since the US and Israel began launching strikes against Iran on 28 February. Three US air force fighter jets were mistakenly shot down in a friendly fire incident by Kuwait air defences earlier this month. All crew members in those jets ejected safely.
Seven US troops have been killed in the conflict, while as many as 150 US troops have been wounded. The death toll in Iran is more than 1,300, according to the country’s UN ambassador.
Both Donald Trump and the US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, have warned that the Iran war would probably claim more American lives before the conflict ends.
