A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker tanker aircraft crashed in western Iraq near the Jordanian border on Thursday, according to reports from multiple news sources. U.S. Central Command (Centcom) confirmed that two aircraft were involved in the incident, with one aircraft crashing and the other landing safely in Tel Aviv after sending distress signals.
Sources to CBS News and CNN report that at least five crew members were on board the crashed aircraft. A major rescue operation is currently underway in the area, though the fate of the crew remains unknown.
According to Centcom, the crash was not caused by enemy fire or friendly fire. The exact cause of the incident is still under investigation. The aircraft was reportedly on a mission related to U.S. military operations in the region, with some sources linking it to "Operation Epic Fury" or the ongoing conflict with Iran.
The second aircraft, also identified as a KC-135, sustained damage during the incident but managed to land safely in Tel Aviv. This marks the fourth publicly confirmed aircraft crash during "Operation Epic Fury," following an earlier incident where three F-15E Strike Eagles were shot down over Kuwait in a friendly fire incident.