From the Liveblog of
Friday, March 13, 2026
Four American soldiers killed in refueling aircraft crash over Iraq, US military says
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
The American military says four soldiers are confirmed dead in the refueling aircraft crash over western Iraq last night.
“Four of six crew members on board the aircraft have been confirmed deceased as rescue efforts continue,” the US Central Command says.
CENTCOM says the circumstances of the incident are still under investigation. “However, the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire,” it says.
The KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed following an apparent accident involving another tanker.
The second tanker landed at Ben Gurion Airport. The aircraft had sent a “squawk code” of 7700, an international emergency signal, according to flight tracking data.
Images show that the second KC-135 sustained damage to its vertical stabilizer.
תיעוד: אחד ממטוסי התדלוק האמריקניים, שהיה מעורב אתמול בתאונה בשמי עיראק, צולם בנתב"ג ללא חלק משמעותי ממיצב הכיוון בזנב המטוס. תיעוד המטוס הגיע אלינו הבוקר, ומלמד משהו על התאונה החריגה במהלך התקיפות באיראן
המטוס השני שהיה מעורב בתאונה התרסק בעיראק, גורל ששת אנשי הצוות לא ידוע pic.twitter.com/igBPfEOZjf
— איתי בלומנטל ???????? Itay Blumental (@ItayBlumental) March 13, 2026
The Times of Israel Community.