A US Air Force Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refuelling tanker aircraft crashed in western Iraq. US Central Command (Centcom) stated that neither hostile nor friendly fire was involved in the incident.
The tanker had been involved in ongoing US operations against Iran. It was one of two aircraft involved in the incident; the second landed safely.
Centcom described the crash as occurring over friendly airspace, but this is a region where pro-Iranian militias operate. Iran's military claimed on state TV that an allied group had targeted the plane with a missile.
The status of the six service personnel believed to have been on board the crashed aircraft is currently unclear. A KC-135 is typically used for refuelling and carries a crew of between three to five.
The US military has now lost at least four aircraft during the current conflict.