BREAKING: Four killed after US refuelling plane crashes in Iraq

Four of six crew members aboard a US military KC-135 refuelling aircraft have died following a crash in western Iraq, the US Central Command (Centcom) has confirmed.

Rescue operations are ongoing. Centcom said the crash did not involve hostile or friendly fire. The tanker was one of two aircraft involved in the incident; the second plane landed safely.

The Boeing-made KC-135, capable of midair refuelling, plays a key role in US military operations and was extensively used during the first Gulf War to extend the range of fighter jets and bombers.

Centcom reported the crash occurred around 14:00 ET (19:00 GMT) on Thursday. The circumstances are under investigation, and the identities of the deceased are being withheld for 24 hours to notify next of kin.

The KC-135 typically carries a pilot, co-pilot, and a boom operator, who controls the aircraft’s refuelling arm.

Although Centcom said the crash occurred over friendly airspace, the area is known for activity by pro-Iranian militias. Iran’s military claimed on state television that an allied group had targeted the aircraft with a missile.

Since the outbreak of the US-Israel-Iran conflict, seven US soldiers have been confirmed dead, and at least four aircraft have been lost.