The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iran-backed armed factions, has claimed responsibility for downing a United States military KC-135 refueling aircraft in western Iraq on Thursday.
In its statement, the group framed the attack as a defensive action to protect Iraq’s sovereignty and airspace. The incident occurred amid escalating regional tensions following a large-scale U.S.-Israeli military operation targeting sites in Tehran and other Iranian cities.
Iranian state media reported that these strikes killed several senior officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, prompting threats of retaliatory actions across the region.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that one KC-135 Stratotanker was lost during a mission linked to “Operation Epic Fury,” while a second aircraft involved in the operation landed safely. See More/Details