What exactly went wrong in the skies over Iraq?
The US military is trying to answer that question after a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker crashed in western Iraq.
Another aircraft involved in the same incident managed to land safely.
According to United States Central Command, the crash happened during Operation Epic Fury.
The US campaign linked to the wider conflict involving Iran.
Officials stressed that the aircraft did not go down due to hostile or friendly fire, though rescue operations were launched immediately.
A US official, speaking anonymously, said the aircraft that crashed had six service members on board, while the second plane—also a KC-135—returned safely.
But the situation quickly became more complicated.
Militia Claims Responsibility
A militia group calling itself the Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility, saying it had shot down the aircraft “in defense of our country’s sovereignty.”
The KC-135, a refuelling workhorse used by the United States Air Force for more than six decades, usually flies with a small crew.
It can carry additional personnel depending on the mission.
The crash also adds to recent aviation losses in the conflict.
Earlier, three F-15E Strike Eagle jets were accidentally shot down over Kuwait during combat operations.
In war zones, even the most routine missions can quickly turn into dangerous mysteries unfolding miles above the ground.
