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The US military says it lost a refueling aircraft in Iraq. Rescue operations are underway.

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  • A KC-135 refueling aircraft “went down” in Iraq, the US military announced Friday evening.
  • A second unidentified aircraft was involved but landed safely.
  • The status of the refueling aircraft’s crew is unknown.

A US military KC-135 refueling aircraft involved in Operation Epic Fury has crashed in Iraq, US Central Command said in a statement on Friday evening.

“Central Command is aware of the loss of a US KC-135 refueling aircraft,” the command, which oversees US military operations in the Middle East, said, adding that the incident involved two aircraft operating in friendly airspace in support of Epic Fury.

One aircraft “went down” in western Iraq, while a second unidentified aircraft landed safely. The aircraft loss “was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire,” CENTCOM said.

This marks the fourth American aircraft loss since the start of Operation Epic Fury, the Pentagon’s name for US operations against Iran, nearly two weeks ago. Just days into the war, CENTCOM announced that three American F-15E Strike Eagles were downed by friendly fire over Kuwait. The aircraft were lost, but all six aircrew members were able to eject safely.

The KC-135 Stratotanker is an Air Force asset that supports the broader joint force by refueling other aircraft — including fighter jets, bombers, and cargo aircraft — in notoriously complex midair refueling operations. It’s essentially a flying gas station that executes fuel transfers at high speed with aircraft in close proximity.

The KC-135 typically carries a three-person crew — a pilot, co-pilot, and boom operator. The status of the crew is not known at this time. CENTCOM said rescue operations are ongoing.




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Trump says US has started ‘major combat operations’ against Iran as strikes hit Tehran

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President Donald Trump announced early Saturday that the US had begun “major combat operations in Iran.”

“Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people,” he said in a video statement posted on Truth Social.

The US and Israel carried out airstrikes against Iran on Saturday, following months of tensions between Tehran and Washington.

The Israeli government first announced the airstrikes, which were carried out in broad daylight, as “preemptive.”

“The government of Israel has carried out a preemptive strike against the Islamic Republic to eliminate threats against the country of Israel,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement carried by government channels.

“As a result, a missile and drone attack against Israel and its civilian population is expected in the near future,” he added.

A US official confirmed to Business Insider that American forces were involved, adding that the strikes were ongoing.

Footage circulating on social media appeared to show explosions and plumes of smoke in Iran.

The attack marks the second time that the Trump administration has taken military action against Iran. In June 2025, the US bombed the country’s nuclear facilities as part of Operation Midnight Hammer, and Trump said at the time these had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear sites.

This new round of strikes comes on the heels of negotiations between the US and Iran, part of the Trump administration’s efforts to pressure Tehran into a deal that would severely limit its nuclear and military capabilities. It also follows the withdrawal of Western diplomats from several Middle East countries.

In recent weeks, as Trump has issued repeated threats and warnings to Iran, pushing it to make a deal, the US has built up a large military footprint in the Middle East and nearby European waters.

The Pentagon has surged hundreds of fighter jets, aerial refueling tankers, reconnaissance planes, support aircraft, and warships into the region.

One complicating factor has been public resistance from US allies to operations against Iran. The UK barred the US from using its nearby bases, and Jordan said its bases couldn’t be used for attacks on Iran, despite imagery showing the US has shifted cargo planes and F-35 stealth fighters to one of its bases.

The significant US naval presence on station or taking up position in the area includes at least two aircraft carriers, more than a dozen guided-missile destroyers, and three littoral combat ships, which are designed for near-shore operations.

The two aircraft carriers — USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R. Ford — are each equipped with dozens of embarked fighters, electronic attack jets, early warning planes, and helicopters. The Lincoln’s air wing includes F-35 stealth fighters.

On Friday, a day after the Trump administration’s negotiations with Iranian officials in Geneva, White House official Dan Scavino posted a photograph on social media of eight B-2 Spirit stealth bombers on a runway, suggesting these aircraft could be used to strike Iran again.

This story is breaking. Please check back for updates.




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