U.S. fighter aircraft shot down this week in Kuwait during attacks on Iran appear to be from units based in North Carolina, according to reports and detailed image

What we know about US military plane crash in Iraq as all six crew confirmed dead - U.S. military says crash not caused by ‘hostile fire’ even as Iran-backed group claims responsibility

The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is one of the most important refuelling aircraft used by the United States Air Force during long military missions. It is part of the US military assets deployed in West Asia to take part in operations against Iran.

The F-35 fighter jet landed safely and the pilot is in stable condition, CENTCOM spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins said.

Iran claimed Friday that a US refueling aircraft was shot down in western Iraq, killing its crew. Iranian state television, citing a spokesman for the Khatam al-Anbiya military headquarters affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the aircraft was struck by missiles fired by “resistance factions,

Earlier, in 2025, Houthi rebels in Yemen had shot down several American Reaper drones. The Houthi rebels receive weapons and training from Iran.

As per US Central Command, the incident took place in Iraq's friendly airspace as part of military movement in Operation Epic Fury.

KC 135 Plane: America's military has lost four aircraft in the Iran conflict. A refuelling plane crashed in Iraq. Three fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by friendly fire over Kuwait. These incidents occurred during intense combat.