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United States Air Force refuelling aircraft goes down in western Iraq.
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Incident occurs during Operation Epic Fury targeting Iran.
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United States Central Command says crash not caused by hostile fire.
A refuelling aircraft belonging to the United States Air Force has crashed in western Iraq during ongoing military operations linked to the escalating conflict with Iran.
The development was confirmed on Thursday by the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) in a statement.
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According to the command, the aircraft, identified as a KC-135 Stratotanker, went down while participating in Operation Epic Fury, the United States-led campaign targeting Iranian military infrastructure.
CENTCOM stated that two aircraft were involved in the incident, with one crashing in western Iraq while the second aircraft landed safely.
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The command noted that the crash occurred in friendly airspace and was not the result of hostile fire or friendly fire.
Rescue operations have since been launched to locate and assist crew members involved in the incident.
Authorities said casualties have not yet been confirmed as officials continue to gather details and notify the families of the affected service members.
The crash comes amid an expanding regional conflict following a major offensive launched on February 28 by the United States and Israel against Iran, targeting military facilities, missile systems and leadership structures.
Military officials noted that aerial refuelling aircraft such as the KC-135 play a critical role in sustaining long-range combat missions by enabling fighter jets and bombers to remain airborne for extended operations.
CENTCOM added that more information about the crash will be released as rescue efforts continue.
