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Iran Claims Iraq Resistance Downed US Tanker, CENTCOM Denies Hostile Fire

Iran's state media, citing military spokespersons, claims an Iraqi resistance group shot down a US Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, killing all six service members on board. The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the aircraft was lost over western Iraq but explicitly denied the incident resulted from hostile or friendly fire. The crash occurred during Operation Epic Fury in what CENTCOM describes as friendly airspace, with a second involved aircraft landing safely. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump commented on the broader situation with Iran, praising US military strength.

Key Points: US Aircraft Downed in Iraq: Iran Claims Attack, CENTCOM Denies

  • Conflicting claims on cause of crash
  • Iran's IRGC credits "Resistance Front"
  • CENTCOM confirms loss in friendly airspace
  • Rescue operations underway
3 min read

Iran state media claims Iraq resistance group downed US aircraft, CENTCOM denies hostile fire

Conflicting reports emerge as Iran claims resistance groups shot down a US KC-135 tanker in Iraq, killing six, while CENTCOM denies hostile fire.

"This was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire, - CENTCOM"

Baghdad, March 13

Iran's state media has cited the spokesman for the Central Headquarters of Iran's Military to claim that the US military refueling plane was shot down by a missile fired by resistance groups in Western Iraq

The spokesperson further told Press TV that all six of the service members on board had been killed.

Press TV reported that the Public Relations Department of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) also said in a statement that the air defence systems of the Resistance Front succeeded in targeting a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker tanker while it was refuelling an aggressor fighter jet.

Earlier, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the loss of a US Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker refuelling aircraft over Iraq while supporting military operations, according to an official press release. However it denied any incident of Hostile fire.

According to a press release issued by CENTCOM, the incident occurred in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury.

"Two aircraft were involved in the incident. One of the aircraft went down in western Iraq, while the second aircraft was able to land safely," the release said.

"This was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire," CENTCOM posted on X.

Authorities added that rescue efforts are currently underway.

"More information will be made available as the situation develops. We ask for continued patience to gather additional details and provide clarity for the families of service members," the release said.

Earlier, President Donald Trump on Thursday (local time) said the situation involving Iran was progressing "very rapidly" and praised the strength of the United States military.

Speaking at the Women's History Month event at the White House, the US president said American forces were performing strongly and suggested that current actions were addressing long-standing issues with Iran.

"The situation with Iran is moving along very rapidly. It's doing very well. Our military is unsurpassed. There's never been anything like it. Nobody's ever seen anything like it," Trump said.

He added that the United States was now taking actions that should have been carried out decades earlier. Reflecting on his earlier time in office, Trump said his administration's efforts to rebuild the US military had strengthened its current capabilities.

"We had a very successful first term, best economy ever. We did a lot of great things. We rebuilt our military. That's one of the reasons we're doing so well now with our military," he said.

Trump also noted that he had not expected to rely so heavily on the armed forces but said the strengthened military had become crucial in dealing with international developments.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
The conflicting narratives are concerning. Iran's state media has a clear agenda, but CENTCOM's denial also needs scrutiny. As an outsider, it's hard to know what to believe. The families of those service members deserve clarity, not political posturing.
A
Arjun K
From an Indian perspective, we've seen how tensions in the Middle East can affect global oil prices and our economy. This constant US-Iran shadow boxing is destabilizing for the whole region. Hope cooler heads prevail and there's no further escalation. 🙏
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Priya S
The timing of Trump's comments is interesting. Praising the military while an incident is unfolding. It feels like domestic political messaging is being prioritized over a serious investigation into what happened to that aircraft and its crew.
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Vikram M
Iran claiming a "Resistance Front" success is classic propaganda. But if a refueling plane went down, it's a serious operational loss regardless of cause. The focus should be on the personnel involved, not scoring geopolitical points.
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Karthik V
This is why permanent foreign military presence in other countries is so problematic. It creates a cycle of provocation and response. India has always advocated for dialogue and peaceful resolution of conflicts. The world needs that approach now more than ever.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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