US Central Command (CENTCOM) has acknowledged that a KC-135 refueling aircraft was lost in what it described as “friendly airspace” in western Iraq, with rescue efforts currently underway. There is no immediate word on deaths or survivors among the crew. CENTCOM’s statement indicated that a second aircraft “landed safely” and said the crash was not caused by “hostile fire or friendly fire.”
However, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq quickly disputed this, claiming they shot down a US Army KC-135 in western Iraq using “the appropriate weapon.” According to Al Jazeera, A KC-135 refueling tanker typically requires at least three crew members to operate, meaning multiple personnel may be involved.
This crash is the latest incident in the ongoing US-Israel joint war against Iran, which began on February 28. Before this, the US military had reported seven service members killed in action, with an eighth dying in Kuwait from a “health-related incident.” Additionally, 140 personnel have been wounded, with eight suffering severe injuries.
The war against Iran is proving costly in lives, public support, and political unity
On March 1, three F-15E Strike Eagles were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses during active combat. The six crew members from those aircraft ejected safely and were recovered in stable condition. The Pentagon has also faced scrutiny over how accurately it has been reporting the true number of casualties in the Iran conflict.
The war has faced negative public approval from the start. A Quinnipiac University poll on March 9 found that 53 percent of voters opposed the military offensive, and 74 percent rejected deploying US ground troops. An Ipsos poll found 43 percent disapproving of the US strikes compared to just 29 percent who approved.
The conflict has also divided some of President Trump’s own supporters. Talk show host Tucker Carlson called the war “absolutely disgusting and evil” in an interview and suggested Trump may have been misled by his advisers. President Trump responded by disavowing his critics, including Carlson, stating, “MAGA is America First, and Tucker is none of those things.”
The administration has offered varying reasons for the war. President Trump warned that a “nuclear war” would have broken out if Iran had not been confronted, and argued that nuclear negotiations with Iran had failed, even though officials had previously suggested a deal was close.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier this month that a US attack was launched because “we knew there was going to be an Israeli action” against Iran, though he later walked back those comments. Meanwhile, debate continues in other institutions over military policy, such as Harvard’s response to Hegseth’s woke military ban.
Beyond US military losses, the broader human cost of the conflict is significant. An estimated 1,348 Iranians have been killed since hostilities began, along with 15 Israelis and 17 people in nearby Gulf states.
Published: Mar 13, 2026 04:28 pm