A U.S. military refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq on ​Thursday, in an incident U.S. Central ‌Command said involved another aircraft but was not the result of hostile or ​friendly fire.

The United States has ​surged a large number of aircraft ⁠into the Middle East to take ​part in operations against Iran.

In a ​statement, U.S. Central Command said it was carrying out rescue efforts after the U.S. KC-135 ​refueling aircraft went down. The second ​aircraft landed safely.

“The incident occurred in friendly airspace ‌during ⁠Operation Epic Fury, and rescue efforts are ongoing,” the statement said, using the name of the U.S. operation ​against Iran.

Since ​the ⁠U.S. and Israel started carrying out strikes against Iran on ​February 28, seven U.S. troops ​have ⁠been killed.

Reuters reported on Tuesday that as many as 150 U.S. troops have ⁠been ​wounded in the U.S.-Israeli ​war on Iran.

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