BAGHDAD: A U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft was tragically lost over Iraq on Thursday, killing all six crew members on board, as confirmed by U.S. Central Command. The identities of those deceased will be withheld for 24 hours to allow for family notifications.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine stated on Friday that the crew members were conducting a combat mission in what was considered "friendly" territory at the time of the crash. It has been pointed out that the incident was not caused by hostile or friendly fire, a significant finding as investigations continue. The incident has raised concerns as it involved two aircraft participating in Operation Epic Fury, which is part of the U.S. offensive against Iran.

The downing of the KC-135 occurred in friendly airspace, according to CENTCOM. The second aircraft involved successfully landed without incident, further identified as another KC-135 tanker. "The circumstances of the incident are under investigation. However, we can confirm that the loss was not due to hostile actions," stated a spokesperson for Central Command.

This tragic event marks the fourth U.S. military aircraft loss since the commencement of the operations against Iran. In a related incident last week, three F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets, mistakenly downed by U.S. ally Kuwait, resulted in successful recoveries of their crew members who managed to eject before the crash. The ongoing military actions highlight the risks faced by personnel operating in the volatile region. As rescue efforts continue, the focus remains on understanding the circumstances surrounding this latest incident.