Washington DC, March 14 (ANI): The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) on Friday (local time) announced that B-2 stealth bombers have taken off to conduct a mission as part of Operation Epic Fury, a US-led military operation aimed at countering threats posed by the Iranian regime.
According to a post by CENTCOM on X, the bombers were deployed to deliver long-range firepower as part of the operation. The command said the mission is intended not only to eliminate current threats but also to prevent Iran from rebuilding capabilities that could pose future security risks.
“B-2 stealth bombers take off to conduct a mission during Operation Epic Fury, delivering long-range fire to not only eliminate the threat from the Iranian regime today, but also eliminate their ability to rebuild in the future,” CENTCOM stated.
Meanwhile, CENTCOM also confirmed that all six crew members aboard a US KC-135 Stratotanker refuelling aircraft that crashed in western Iraq on March 12 during Operation Epic Fury have died.
In a statement, the command said the aircraft was lost while flying over friendly airspace while supporting ongoing operations. Officials clarified that the incident was not caused by hostile fire or friendly fire, though the circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation.
“The aircraft was lost while flying over friendly airspace March 12 during Operation Epic Fury. The circumstances of the incident are under investigation. However, the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire,” the statement read.
CENTCOM added that the names of the deceased service members will be withheld until at least 24 hours after their families have been notified.
Earlier on Thursday, CENTCOM confirmed the loss of the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker while it was supporting military operations tied to Operation Epic Fury, which aims to dismantle elements of Iran’s security apparatus and prioritise locations considered to pose an imminent threat.
According to the official release, two aircraft were involved in the incident. One aircraft crashed in western Iraq, while the second aircraft managed to land safely.
“This was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire,” the release reiterated.
However, Iran’s state media offered a different account, citing a spokesperson for the Central Headquarters of Iran’s Military who claimed that the US refuelling plane was shot down by a missile fired by resistance groups in western Iraq.
The spokesperson told Press TV that all six service members on board were killed. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also stated that air defence systems of the “Resistance Front” had successfully targeted a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker while it was refuelling an attacking fighter jet, according to Press TV. (ANI)
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