Four US service members were killed after a refuelling plane crashed in Iraq, the US military has confirmed. The US Central Command, which oversees operations in the Middle East, said the crash occurred at 2pm on Thursday.

Rescue efforts are reproted to be ongoing. Posted on X, the official US Military statement reiterated that the loss of the aircraft was "not due to hostile fire or friendly fire". Four of six crew members on board the aircraft have been confirmed as deceased. The circumstances of the incident are under investigation. The statement went on to add: "The identities of the service members are being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin have been notified." The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, ​which is an ​umbrella group of ⁠Iranian proxies, has claimed responsibility for downing the plane. although its previous claims have been disputed.

The KC-135 is a military aerial refuelling aircraft used mainly by the United States Air Force.

A flying fuel tanker, it allows other military aircraft to refuel while still in the air - meaning they can fly much farther and stay on missions longer.

US Central Command previously reported that two aircraft were involved, with one going down over Western Iraq.

It also said the incident happened over friendly airspace, with the second aircraft landing safely.