WASHINGTON: A US military refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, in an incident US Central Command said involved another aircraft but was not the result of hostile or friendly fire. The United States has surged a large number of aircraft into the Middle East to take part in operations against Iran. In a statement, US Central Command said it was carrying out rescue efforts after the US KC-135 refueling aircraft went down. The second aircraft landed safely.

A U.S. KC-135 refuelling aircraft crashed in Iraq during Operation Epic Fury; rescue efforts are currently underway.

CENCTOM said the incident ‘was not due to hostile or friendly fire’