US tanker aircraft crashes in Iraq; Iran says it was hit by “resistance” missiles

An explosion is reported near the U.S. Consulate and the Erbil International Airport area, where a U.S. military base is also located, in Erbil, Iraq, with fire breaking out and thick smoke rising following the blast, on march 12, 2026. [Ahsan Mohammed Ahmed Ahmed – Anadolu Agency]

The US Central Command said a US refuelling aircraft has crashed in western Iraq, stressing that the incident was not caused by hostile fire or friendly fire. It added that rescue efforts are continuing.

In a statement released late on Thursday night, the command said the aircraft was a KC-135 tanker. It crashed while flying in “friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury” against Iran.

The statement added that two aircraft were involved in the incident: one crashed in western Iraq, while the other landed safely.

Meanwhile, Iranian state television quoted the Khatam al-Anbiya air defence headquarters as saying that a US aircraft had been shot down in western Iraq by missiles fired by resistance factions, killing its crew.

Earlier, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had targeted the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln with missiles and drones, claiming it had caused major damage.

The Guard said the aircraft carrier is now withdrawing towards the United States after the attack.

READ: US Embassy in Baghdad says leaving Iraq ‘best option’ for Americans

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