US Military Plane Crash in Iraq: All Six Crew Members Confirmed Dead

The US military has confirmed that all six crew members onboard a KC-135 military refuelling plane were killed in a crash in western Iraq on Thursday.

The incident, which involved another aircraft, is the latest in a series of aircraft losses since the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28. This brings the total number of US aircraft lost to four.

The western desert of Iraq, a vast and largely empty region, has been a focal point of the conflict, with repeated airstrikes targeting Iran-aligned Shia militia bases.

This crash adds to the mounting toll of the Middle East war. Since the joint US-Israeli offensive began, 13 US troops have lost their lives, and approximately 150 have been wounded. The death toll in Iran is estimated to exceed 1,300.

The US has deployed a large fleet of aircraft and specialist search and rescue units to the region as part of its operations against Iran. This includes efforts to extract the crew of the downed plane.

The conflict has seen a series of attacks and retaliations, with pro-Iranian factions targeting areas where foreign forces are based. The pro-Iranian Ashab al-Kahf group in Iraq has threatened French interests in the region.

Both US President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have acknowledged the likelihood of further American casualties as the war continues.

The situation remains tense, with Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, vowing to avenge Iranian casualties. The Israeli military reported missile attacks from Iran overnight, and Israel has threatened to expand its operations in Lebanon.