Four US service members killed in plane crash over Iraq

2026-03-13 10:45:38

WASHINGTON, March 13 (Reuters) - Four of the six crew members aboard a U.S. military aircraft that crashed in western Iraq are confirmed to have been killed, the U.S. ‌military said on Friday, as rescue efforts continued for the remaining two.

A U.S. military refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, in an incident the military said involved another aircraft but was not the result of hostile or friendly fire.

The Reuters Iran Briefing newsletter keeps you informed with the latest developments and analysis of the Iran war. Sign up here.

The deaths add to the seven U.S. service members who have already been killed as part ⁠of U.S. operations against Iran which began on February 28.

“The circumstances of the incident are under investigation. However, the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire,” a statement from U.S. Central Command said.

A U.S. official told Reuters that the second aircraft involved in the crash, which landed safely, was also a military refueling aircraft known as the KC-135.

The United States has deployed a large number of aircraft into the Middle East to take part in operations against Iran and the incident highlights the risk of not just operations, ‌but ⁠of refueling aircraft in the air.

The KC-135, built by Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab in the 1950s and early 1960s, has served as the backbone of the U.S. military’s air refueling fleet and is critical to allowing aircraft to carry out missions without having to land.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of ⁠Iran-backed armed factions, claimed responsibility for downing the U.S. military refueling aircraft.

Reuters reported on Tuesday that as many as 150 U.S. troops have been wounded in the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. News of the ⁠crash comes the same day two U.S. sailors were injured after the USS Gerald Ford suffered a non-combat-related fire on board.

The first seven U.S. troops were killed when a drone ⁠slammed into a U.S. military facility in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait.

President Donald Trump and other senior officials have warned the Iran conflict will result in more U.S. military deaths as Tehran retaliates against U.S. and Israeli strikes.

Reporting by Idrees Ali; Editing by Toby Chopra

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

Suggested Topics:
World

X
Facebook
Linkedin
Email
Link

Purchase Licensing Rights

Idrees Ali

Thomson Reuters

National security correspondent focusing on the Pentagon in Washington D.C. Reports on U.S. military activity and operations throughout the world and the impact that they have. Has reported from over two dozen countries to include Iraq, Afghanistan, and much of the Middle East, Asia and Europe. From Karachi, Pakistan.

Email
X
Instagram

Phil Stewart

Thomson Reuters

Phil Stewart has reported from more than 60 countries, including Afghanistan, Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, China and South Sudan. An award-winning Washington-based national security reporter, Phil has appeared on NPR, PBS NewsHour, Fox News and other programs and moderated national security events, including at the Reagan National Defense Forum and the German Marshall Fund. He is a recipient of the Edwin M. Hood Award for Diplomatic Correspondence and the Joe Galloway Award.

This page may contain third-party content, which is provided for information purposes only (not representations/warranties) and should not be considered as an endorsement of its views by Gate, nor as financial or professional advice. See Disclaimer for details.