The United States military has confirmed that one of its KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq during ongoing joint operations with Israel against Iran. The incident occurred on Thursday in what officials described as friendly airspace under Operation Epic Fury. US Central Command, which oversees operations in the Middle East, said rescue efforts are underway but did not confirm whether there were any fatalities or survivors. The statement indicated that a second aircraft involved in the incident landed safely and clarified that the crash was not caused by hostile or friendly fire.

The crash follows a series of setbacks for US forces since the start of the campaign against Iran on February 28. Earlier, three F-15E fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defences on March 1, though all six crew members survived. The Pentagon has reported seven US service members killed and 140 wounded so far, including eight with severe injuries. The conflict has also resulted in significant casualties in Iran and Israel, with violence spreading across the Gulf region.

Public opinion in the United States remains largely opposed to the war, with multiple polls showing a majority of voters disapprove of the offensive and reject the idea of deploying ground troops.

A United States KC-135 military refueling aircraft crashed in Iraqi airspace during Operation Epic Fury, according to a statement from the US Central Command (CENTCOM). The incident occurred in friendly airspace, and rescue operations have been launched by CENTCOM forces. The statement confirmed that two aircraft were involved in the operation; one crashed in western Iraq while the other landed safely.

CENTCOM clarified that the crash was not caused by enemy fire or friendly fire. The KC-135 aircraft is typically used to refuel combat aircraft midair during extended military operations. The statement did not provide details about casualties or the cause of the crash.

The ongoing rescue efforts indicate that the US military is prioritizing recovery and investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

An Iranian attack on a US-owned crude oil tanker near Basra, Iraq, has killed one Indian crew member, according to the Indian Embassy in Baghdad. The incident occurred in Iraqi waters, and the remaining 15 Indian crew members aboard the Marshall Islands-flagged vessel 'Safe Sea Vishnu' were evacuated to safety. The embassy confirmed the death and said it is in contact with the rescued sailors and Iraqi authorities to provide necessary assistance.

Following the attack near Basra, another oil tanker in the Persian Gulf caught fire. Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB reported that the country has claimed responsibility for the assault, stating that underwater drone strikes destroyed two oil tankers in the Persian Gulf. The embassy’s statement on social media emphasized ongoing coordination with local authorities.

The incident adds to a series of maritime attacks in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, where tensions have escalated amid regional hostilities involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.

Italy’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that a missile attack struck an Italian military base in Erbil, located in Iraq’s Kurdistan region. The incident occurred on March 12, 2026, but no casualties were reported among Italian personnel. The ministry stated on social media that all Italian staff were safe and unharmed.

Defence Minister Guido Crosetto has been in contact with senior military commanders following the incident. In a separate statement, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said that soldiers took shelter in a bunker during the attack and were all safe. Approximately 300 Italian troops are currently stationed in Erbil.

The report appeared amid heightened regional tensions, including recent claims of Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities and multiple assaults on ships in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz.

Iraq has temporarily suspended operations at all its fuel ports following an attack on oil tankers off the country's coast. A government official confirmed that commercial ports remain open. The head of Iraq’s General Company for Ports, Farhan al-Fartousi, told local media that one crew member was killed and 38 others were rescued. The state news agency INA reported that search operations continue for missing individuals.

According to Iraqi port security officials, two foreign fuel tankers were attacked by explosive-laden boats, causing fires on both vessels. Al-Fartousi said one of the tankers was struck while loading fuel and that a smaller Maltese-flagged tanker suffered an explosion. It remains unclear whether the blast resulted from a direct strike or a remotely controlled explosive boat. The tankers were about 30 miles, or 48 kilometers, from Iraq’s coast at the time of the incident.

Iraq’s government media cell described the incident as a sabotage attack, and investigations are ongoing to determine the method and perpetrators.

An Iran-backed Iraqi group known as the Islamic Resistance has claimed responsibility for a series of attacks that reportedly killed 13 US soldiers and injured several dozen others in Iraq. According to a statement released on Wednesday, the group said it carried out 291 military operations over the past 12 days, including 31 drone and missile strikes on US bases within the last 24 hours.

The group warned European nations against participating in any aggression against Iran, accusing global powers of trying to suppress the dignity and independence of the Iranian nation. It alleged that Zionist and American forces are attempting to draw Iran’s allies into a broader conflict against the Islamic Republic.

The statement further declared that any country taking part in aggression against Iran would be considered an enemy, and its forces and bases in Iraq and the wider region would become legitimate targets for retaliation.

Germany has withdrawn its embassy staff from Baghdad due to heightened security risks, according to a spokesperson for the German Foreign Ministry. The spokesperson stated that the employees of the German Embassy in Baghdad have been temporarily relocated from Iraq because of the high-risk situation.

The ministry also confirmed that legal and consular services at the embassy will remain severely restricted for some time, though they will not be completely suspended. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, speaking in Nicosia, Cyprus, said he had discussed the regional situation with the U.S. Secretary of State.

The decision reflects Germany’s concern over the deteriorating security environment in Iraq and the broader regional instability, prompting precautionary measures to ensure the safety of its diplomatic personnel.

The United Arab Emirates reported that its Consulate General in Iraq’s Kurdistan region was struck by a drone attack. The incident caused structural damage to the facility but resulted in no casualties, according to a statement released by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs on social media platform X.

The ministry described the attack as a dangerous provocation and a threat to regional security and stability. It further stated that targeting diplomatic missions and premises constitutes a serious violation of international norms and laws. The statement did not specify where the drone was launched from.

The UAE called on local authorities in Iraq to investigate the incident and identify those responsible for the attack.

Foreign oil companies have begun withdrawing their employees from Iraq’s oil fields, according to footage obtained by Reuters showing workers crossing the Safwan border into Kuwait. A security guard from the US oil company Halliburton, Mohammad Ta’meh, told Reuters that foreign staff left Iraq due to the deteriorating security situation and will decide their next steps from Kuwait.

Another US oil producer, HKN Energy, halted oil production on Friday after reports of attacks by terrorist groups. The withdrawals and production halt come as oil fields across the region have become targets during a week-long conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.

The developments highlight the growing instability in Iraq’s energy sector and the potential disruption to regional oil operations as security threats intensify.

Iraq has stated that it will not tolerate any form of threat against Iran from within its territory. The assurance came from Iraqi Prime Minister Shia al-Sudani, according to a written statement released by Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday. The statement followed a telephone conversation between Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and the Iraqi leader amid Iran’s ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel.

According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s post on social media platform X, the Iraqi prime minister expressed respect for Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during the call. He also reaffirmed that his government would not permit any hostile activities against Iran to be launched from Iraqi soil or along its borders.

The statement underscores Iraq’s attempt to balance its regional relations while maintaining stability amid heightened tensions involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.

Two drones were shot down near Baghdad International Airport in Iraq, according to an Iraqi official quoted by AFP. The incident occurred just hours after another drone attack targeted the same facility. Authorities confirmed that there were no casualties or significant damage from the latest incident.

A separate security source in Baghdad also verified the event. The airport complex includes a military base that houses a U.S. diplomatic facility and previously hosted troops from the U.S.-led coalition. The recurrence of drone attacks near such a sensitive site has drawn attention to the fragile security conditions in the area.

The incidents come amid heightened tensions across the Middle East, raising renewed concerns about regional stability and the safety of diplomatic and military installations in Iraq.

A drone attack targeted a hotel used to house US troops in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan region, near the Iranian border. The armed group Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility, saying it deliberately struck the hotel where American soldiers were staying. Iraqi news agency Naya News shared a video on Telegram showing a building in Erbil engulfed in flames, describing it as a strike on an ‘occupying force base.’ No immediate details on casualties or damage were available.

On the same day, Iran claimed responsibility for drone and missile attacks on US forces stationed in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. According to Al Jazeera, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said its naval forces carried out a ‘complex attack’ combining drones and missiles against American troops in Dubai. The IRGC also claimed to have launched a drone strike on the US base at Arifjan in Kuwait.

The incidents mark a series of coordinated strikes across the region, though the full extent of the damage and potential escalation remain unclear.

Several explosions occurred at the United States’ Victoria military base near Baghdad International Airport, according to reports published early Monday. Verified video footage reviewed by Al Jazeera showed thick plumes of smoke rising from inside the base following the blasts.

Iraqi media, citing security sources, reported that two drones targeted the base. One drone reportedly struck inside the facility, while the other was intercepted and brought down. The full extent of the damage and any casualties have not yet been confirmed.

Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation, and further details remain unavailable at this stage, according to Al Jazeera.

Hundreds of Iraqis attempted to storm the US Embassy located in Baghdad’s Green Zone on Saturday following reports of the death of Iran’s supreme leader. According to a source quoted by AFP, the attempt had so far failed, but protesters continued trying to enter the heavily fortified area. Demonstrators carried flags of Iran-aligned armed groups and threw stones at security forces, who responded with tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Local Iraqi media also reported protests erupting in southern provinces. Several Iran-backed armed groups announced they would not remain neutral and vowed to defend the Islamic Republic. Kataib Hezbollah declared plans to attack US bases after two of its members were killed in an airstrike in southern Iraq. Additionally, explosions were reported near Erbil Airport, where US forces are stationed.

The situation reflects heightened regional tension following the reported death of Iran’s top leader and retaliatory threats from Iran-aligned militias across Iraq.

Iraq has declared three days of national mourning following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The announcement was made by government spokesperson Bassem Al-Awadi, according to the Iraqi News Agency. He expressed condolences to the Iranian people and the wider Islamic community, describing the incident as a moment of deep sorrow and grief.

Al-Awadi stated that Khamenei was killed through an act of open aggression that violated humanitarian and moral principles. He added that the killing represented a clear breach of international law. The Iraqi government’s declaration of mourning underscores the close political and religious ties between Iraq and Iran, as well as Baghdad’s condemnation of the attack.

The report also referenced related developments, including claims that 30 senior Iranian officials were killed in the same attack and international reactions labeling the incident a serious violation of international law.