All six crew members confirmed dead after US military plane crash in Iraq
All six crew members confirmed dead after US military plane crash in Iraq
A US military aircraft crash in western Iraq claimed the lives of all six onboard, the Pentagon announced on Thursday. The KC-135 refuelling plane was involved in an incident that included another aircraft, though no hostile fire was reported as the cause. The region, known for its rugged terrain, hosts bases for Iran-backed Shia militias and has witnessed multiple airstrikes by both Israel and the US in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, a French soldier was killed in an attack in Iraq’s Kurdistan region, as disclosed by President Emmanuel Macron on Friday. This marked the first French military fatality in the ongoing conflict. The war, initiated by a joint US-Israeli operation against Iran nearly two weeks ago, has led to numerous attacks attributed to pro-Iranian groups targeting foreign forces in the region.
Iranian warnings and US response
Pro-Iranian factions, including the Ashab al-Kahf group, issued threats on Telegram, stating French interests in Iraq and surrounding areas would face targeted strikes following the deployment of a French aircraft carrier. In response, the US military mobilized a significant air fleet and search-and-rescue teams to assist in recovering the crash victims.
US Central Command confirmed ongoing efforts to locate the downed plane’s crew after the incident. A second aircraft involved in the crash landed unharmed. This incident brings the total number of US aircraft lost since the war began on 28 February to four. Earlier in March, Kuwait’s air defenses accidentally shot down three US fighter jets, though all crew members ejected safely.
“The war will probably claim more American lives before it ends,” said Donald Trump and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, reflecting concerns over the escalating conflict.
Casualties and regional tensions
Since the operation began, 13 US troops have been killed, with 150 wounded. Iran’s UN ambassador reported over 1,300 Iranian casualties. On Thursday, Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, pledged to retaliate against the attacks, according to a televised statement. Khamenei was himself injured in the initial Israeli strike that killed his father and other family members.
Iran’s Fars news agency claimed US and Israeli strikes targeted parts of Tehran on Friday, causing tremors in residential areas. In response, Israel launched a barrage of missiles toward the country overnight, with two civilians injured in the north. The Israeli military continued strikes on Beirut, threatening to expand operations in Lebanon if Hezbollah did not halt its attacks.
