Four killed as US aircraft crashes in Iraq, Iran-backed group claims responsibility
PTC News Desk: Four of the six people on board a US military aircraft were killed after it crashed in Iraq, the United States Central Command confirmed on Friday. The aircraft was a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, which the US military uses to refuel fighter jets and other planes during long-distance missions.
According to the command, the KC-135 crashed in western Iraq on March 12. Officials said the aircraft was not brought down by hostile or friendly fire, and the exact cause of the crash is still being investigated.
Reports cited by Reuters said an Iran-backed armed group in Iraq claimed responsibility for shooting down the plane. However, the US military has denied that the crash was caused by any attack.
The command also said two aircraft were involved in the incident. One aircraft landed safely, while the other crashed in western Iraq.
The accident happened in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury, and rescue operations are still underway. Meanwhile, Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iran-backed armed groups, claimed it had shot down the aircraft, saying the action was taken to defend Iraq’s sovereignty and airspace.
- With inputs from agencies
