Four crew members killed after US refuelling plane crashes in Iraq

March 13, 2026

A US KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq during combat operations, killing four of the six crew members aboard while rescue efforts continue for the remaining two. US Central Command stated the crash was not caused by hostile or friendly fire, though Iran claimed an allied militia targeted the plane with a missile. The incident occurred in a region where pro-Iranian militias operate, raising the official US military death toll to 11 since the US-Israel war with Iran began two weeks ago.

Who is affected

Four confirmed dead crew members of the KC-135 aircraft (identities withheld pending family notification)
Two remaining crew members (status unknown, subject of ongoing rescue efforts)
Next of kin of the deceased crew members
US Central Command and military personnel
French Staff Sgt Arnaud Frion (killed by drone at Kurdish base in northern Iraq)
Six other French soldiers (wounded in separate drone attack)
Pro-Iranian militias operating in western Iraq

What action is being taken

Rescue and recovery operations are ongoing for the two remaining crew members
US Central Command is investigating the circumstances of the crash
Israel is launching "wide-scale wave of strikes" targeting Iranian infrastructure across Tehran
Iran is blocking the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane
French military is stationed at a Kurdish base training Iraqi units

Why it matters

This incident significantly escalates the human cost of the US-Israel conflict with Iran, bringing the US military death toll to 11 in just two weeks of fighting. The loss of a KC-135 refueling aircraft undermines critical air operations capability, as these tankers are essential for extending the range of combat aircraft. The crash occurring in an area controlled by pro-Iranian militias, combined with Iran's claim of responsibility, demonstrates the expanding geographic scope and complexity of the conflict, potentially drawing in additional regional actors and threatening vital global shipping routes like the Strait of Hormuz.

What's next

Next of kin will be notified within 24 hours before crew identities are released
Investigation into the crash circumstances will continue
President Trump has indicated the war could end "very soon" but also suggested the US could "go further"

Read full article from source: BBC