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The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed armed factions, has claimed responsibility for the downing of a United States military refueling aircraft in western Iraq on Thursday.
In a statement, the group said it shot down the KC-135 aircraft “in defense of our country’s sovereignty and airspace”.
The claim came as conflicting accounts emerged over the loss of the US Air Force Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker in western Iraq.
The incident occurred amid rising tensions in the Middle East following a large-scale joint military operation launched by the United States and Israel, targeting sites in Tehran and other Iranian cities.
According to Iranian state media, the strikes killed several senior officials, including Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran has since vowed retaliation across the region.
The United States Central Command, CENTCOM, confirmed that a KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft was lost during a mission in western Iraq linked to an operation it identified as “Operation Epic Fury.”
CENTCOM said two aircraft were involved in the incident. One went down in western Iraq while the second aircraft landed safely.
However, the US military said the incident occurred in friendly airspace and did not confirm that the aircraft was brought down by hostile fire.
Iranian authorities disputed that account. A spokesperson for Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said the aircraft was successfully targeted by Iranian-aligned air defence systems.
The spokesperson claimed that all crew members on board, including three American pilots, were killed.
Iran also alleged that a second US aircraft involved in the mission was heavily damaged and forced to make an emergency landing in Tel Aviv. CENTCOM has not commented on the claim.
Separately, Iranian state broadcaster reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy launched missile strikes against the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72).
A spokesperson for Khatam al-Anbiya said the aircraft carrier sustained heavy damage and was rendered non-operational. The United States Navy has not confirmed the claim.
‘We shot it down’ – Iran counters US on crashed refueling aircraft
