All six crew members aboard a US military refuelling aircraft have been confirmed dead after the plane crashed in western Iraq, according to the United States Central Command (Centcom).

The US military initially reported that four of the crew had been found dead, but later confirmed that all six personnel aboard the aircraft had died. Officials said there was no evidence that either hostile or friendly fire caused the crash involving the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker on Thursday.

The tanker aircraft had been taking part in ongoing US operations linked to the conflict with Iran. It was one of two aircraft involved in the mission, while the second plane landed safely.

Centcom said the crash occurred at about 14:00 ET (19:00 GMT) and that an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident has been launched.

Following the crash, a search and rescue operation was carried out to locate the remaining crew members who were initially unaccounted for.

The US military said the identities of the deceased personnel would be withheld for 24 hours to allow time for their families to be notified.

During a news conference on Friday, Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the aircraft had gone down while the crew were on a combat mission.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth paid tribute to the crew, describing them as “American heroes” and saying their sacrifice would strengthen the resolve of the mission.

The KC-135 typically operates with a crew that includes a pilot, co-pilot and a boom operator responsible for controlling the aircraft’s refuelling arm used to supply fuel to other planes mid-flight.

Centcom said the crash occurred in friendly airspace. However, the region of western Iraq where the aircraft went down is known to host pro-Iranian militia groups. Iran’s military later claimed on state television that an allied group had targeted the aircraft with a missile.

The crash increases the official US military death toll in the ongoing war involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which began two weeks ago, to 13.

The US military has now lost at least four aircraft during the conflict.

Earlier this month, three McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle fighter jets were shot down in what officials described as an apparent friendly-fire incident over Kuwait. All six crew members aboard those aircraft were able to eject safely.

The KC-135 Stratotanker, manufactured by Boeing in the 1950s and early 1960s, has long been a cornerstone of the US military’s aerial refuelling fleet, enabling combat aircraft to conduct extended missions without needing to land.

The race to replace former Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene is heading to a runoff after no candidate secured a majority in Tuesday’s special election.

Republican candidate Clay Fuller, who received the backing of US President Donald Trump, is projected to face Democrat Shawn Harris in the runoff to represent Georgia’s 14th congressional district.

The two candidates emerged from a crowded field of 17 contenders competing for the seat.

Trump gave Fuller his “complete and total endorsement” in a post on Truth Social and reiterated his support during a rally in Rome, Georgia last month.

Tuesday’s vote is being seen as an early test of Trump’s political influence ahead of the upcoming 2026 United States midterm elections scheduled for November.

Speaking on election night, Fuller credited Trump for his strong showing.

“For those of you who questioned how important Donald J Trump is to this country, to Georgia 14, and the state of Georgia, you see what this man means to this community, what he means to the people in this country, and what he means to the MAGA movement,” said Fuller, a former district attorney.

The runoff election between Fuller and Harris is scheduled for 7 April.

The winner will serve out the remainder of Greene’s congressional term, which ends in January. However, the victor will immediately need to begin campaigning again to secure a full term during the November midterms.

Harris finished with the highest vote total on Tuesday night, likely benefiting from a split among Republican voters across the large number of GOP candidates in the race.

In the runoff, Harris will face only Fuller, who is expected to consolidate Republican support.

By Wednesday morning, Trump had already moved to rally support behind Fuller.

“Clay Fuller is going to be a fantastic Congressman in representing the Great State of Georgia,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Now we have to be careful and finish it off. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”

Democrats have also begun mobilising support for Harris. Former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg congratulated him in a message posted on X.

A Thai-flagged cargo ship caught fire in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz after being struck by unidentified projectiles, prompting an emergency rescue operation involving regional naval forces.

According to the Royal Thai Navy, the vessel was carrying 23 Thai crew members when it came under attack while sailing through the narrow shipping route that links the Arabian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman.

The navy said it received the first report of the incident at around 11:00, although the time zone was not specified. The ship had departed earlier from Khalifa Port in the United Arab Emirates.

Rescue efforts were quickly launched, with the Royal Navy of Oman successfully rescuing 20 crew members. Authorities said efforts were continuing to locate and rescue the remaining three sailors.

The Thai navy confirmed that the cause of the attack remains under investigation and did not provide details about who might be responsible.

Meanwhile, the UK Maritime Trade Operations reported a sharp rise in security incidents affecting vessels in the region since the start of the latest conflict in the Middle East.

According to the organisation, 13 ships have been attacked across the region so far. It has also recorded four additional cases of suspicious activity, bringing the total number of maritime security incidents to 17 involving vessels operating in and around the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman.

The update follows reports that three commercial vessels were struck by “unknown projectiles” in separate incidents earlier in the day. In one case, a ship north of Oman was hit, forcing its crew to abandon the vessel for safety.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical shipping corridors, with a significant portion of global oil supplies passing through the narrow waterway each day. Rising tensions and attacks on vessels have heightened concerns about maritime security and the potential impact on global energy supplies.