Speaker A
Did Iran-backed militias just strike a US Air Force aircraft over Iraq?
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Speaker A
Iraq's resistance factions claim they shot down a KC-135 Stratotanker, the plane responsible for mid-air refueling of US strike jets.
Speaker A
And that's not all. Another KC-135 was reportedly damaged in the same incident, raising alarms about escalating proxy involvement.
Speaker A
On March 12th, during Operation Epic Fury, which is the joint US-Israeli offensive against Iranian targets, Iraqi Iran-aligned militias claimed to have taken direct action against US air operations.
Speaker A
According to these groups, a surface-to-air missile brought down one KC-135 near the Iraqi-Jordanian border in Anbar province, while a second tanker was damaged and had to make an emergency landing, reportedly at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport.
Speaker A
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella of Iran-backed militias including elements of the Popular Mobilization Forces, released statements via Telegram and other channels.
Speaker A
They claimed their air defense units successfully targeted the refueling tanker while it supported US fighter jets in operations against Iran. Spokespeople said all six crew members aboard were killed, calling it a defense of Iraqi airspace against American aggression.
Speaker A
Iranian media, including outlets linked to the IRGC, amplified the story, hailing it as a blow to US overreach. Some reports specify a P358 missile as the weapon used.
Speaker A
The US military, through Centcom, strongly denies hostile action. Officials insist the loss resulted from an accident involving two KC-135 aircraft in friendly airspace during mid-air refueling operations. Centcom confirmed one tanker went down, and the second, damaged but still airworthy, landed safely.
Speaker A
Rescue efforts are ongoing in the Anbar desert with helicopters and allied units searching for the downed crew.
Speaker A
Whether accidental or targeted, the incident highlights the risks of operating high-value assets like the KC-135 in contested airspace.
Speaker A
Each tanker is worth tens of millions of dollars and is crucial for extending fighter and bomber missions. The alleged shootdown also signals proxy forces increasing their role in the Iran-US-Israel conflict, raising the stakes for US operations in Iraq and the Gulf.
Speaker A
With conflicting reports, the fog of war is thick. Pro-Iran channels celebrated this as a symbolic victory over US air dominance, while US officials caution that claims remain unverified in an active war zone.
Speaker A
As investigations continue, the world watches closely. Was this a bold strike by Iran-backed militias or an operational accident magnified by propaganda? Either way, the incident adds another layer of tension to an already volatile Middle East.
