World News
Iran Claims US Refueling Aircraft Shot Down in Iraq; CENTCOM Denies Missile Attack
Iran’s state media has claimed that a US military refueling aircraft was shot down by resistance groups in western Iraq, a claim that has been strongly denied by the United States military.
Iran’s state media has claimed that a US military refueling aircraft was shot down by resistance groups in western Iraq, a claim that has been strongly denied by the United States military.
According to reports from Iranian outlets, a spokesperson from the Central Headquarters of Iran’s Armed Forces said the aircraft was targeted by a missile launched by resistance fighters operating in the region. The spokesperson alleged that the strike brought down the aircraft and all six service members on board were killed.
Iran’s Press TV also reported that the Public Relations Department of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) released a statement saying air defense systems of the “Resistance Front” successfully targeted a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker while it was refueling a fighter jet in the air.
CENTCOM Confirms Aircraft Loss but Rejects Missile Strike Claim
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker was lost over Iraq during military operations. However, the US military clearly stated that the incident was not caused by hostile fire.
According to an official CENTCOM press release, the event took place in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury.
Officials explained that 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 statement said.
CENTCOM also addressed the speculation circulating online, posting on X that:
“This was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.”
Search and rescue operations are currently underway as authorities continue to gather details about the incident.
Rescue Efforts Continue as Investigation Begins
Military officials said recovery teams have been deployed to the crash site, and investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident.
Authorities asked for patience as they work to verify information and provide updates to the families of the service members involved.
“More information will be made available as the situation develops,” the statement added.
Trump Says Situation with Iran Is Moving ‘Very Rapidly’
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump commented on the broader situation involving Iran during a Women’s History Month event at the White House.
Trump said developments related to Iran were progressing quickly and praised the strength of the US armed forces.
“The situation with Iran is moving along very rapidly. It’s doing very well. Our military is unsurpassed. Nobody’s ever seen anything like it,” Trump said.
The president also noted that efforts made during his earlier administration to rebuild the military had strengthened its current capabilities.
“We rebuilt our military. That’s one of the reasons we’re doing so well now,” he said.
Trump added that while he did not expect to rely heavily on the armed forces, their strength has become critical in responding to international tensions.
