Shiite Militia Group Claims Strikes on US Bases in Iraq as Dispute Grows Over KC-135 Crash

The Saraya Awliya al-Dam group has claimed responsibility for a series of strikes targeting American installations in Iraq, Al Jazeera reported on Sunday, as competing narratives emerged over the crash of a US military refuelling aircraft and Iran accused the United States and Israel of conducting a false-flag drone campaign in the region.

Operating in Iraq since the US-led invasion in 2003 that ousted Saddam Hussein, Saraya Awliya al-Dam is among several Shiite militia groups active in the region.

The group said it carried out the attacks in response to the US and Israel's killing of Iran's former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the deaths of its fighters.

According to the group, the offensive involved strikes on multiple locations. The attacks included a US site in the northern city of Erbil and the Victoria Base at the Baghdad airport, Al Jazeera noted.

The claims of regional attacks came as the United States Central Command confirmed a military aviation tragedy.

How did the US KC-135 Stratotanker crash during Operation Epic Fury in Iraq?

On Friday, the command said all six crew members aboard a US KC-135 refuelling aircraft that crashed in western Iraq on March 12 had died.

In a statement, the United States Central Command said the aircraft was lost while flying over friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury.

The command added that the names of the deceased service members would be withheld until at least 24 hours after their families had been notified.

"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.

Earlier on Thursday, the command confirmed the loss of the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker refuelling aircraft while it was supporting military operations.

Why did Iran claim the US KC-135 refuelling plane was shot down in western Iraq?

According to the release, the incident occurred during Operation Epic Fury, the US-led operation against the Iranian regime to dismantle the security apparatus and prioritise locations that pose an imminent threat.

The release clarified the scope of the incident, stating: "Two aircraft were involved in the incident. One of the aircraft went down in western Iraq, while the second aircraft was able to land safely."

Iran's state media presented a conflicting account regarding the aircraft. Citing the spokesman for the Central Headquarters of Iran's Military, state reports claimed that the US military 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 Public Relations Department of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps supported the claim in a separate statement.

What did Iran say about attempts to frame Tehran through regional drone attacks?

According to Press TV, the IRGC said that the air defence systems of the Resistance Front succeeded in targeting the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker while it was refuelling an aggressor fighter jet.

The spokesman for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters accused the United States and Israel of conducting a false-flag campaign using a rebranded version of Iran's Shahed-136 drone known as "Lucas", Press TV reported on Sunday.

The official claimed that these drones are being deployed against civilian infrastructure across the region to deliberately frame the Islamic Republic.

In a formal statement, the spokesman said that after facing military challenges and failing to establish political alliances against Tehran, the enemy has turned to deceptive tactics.

The objective of these manoeuvres, according to the statement, is to "create doubt and accuse the Islamic Republic of Iran" while damaging ties between Tehran and its regional partners, Press TV noted.

Why did Iran call for regional cooperation against alleged deceptive tactics?

The spokesman highlighted several "suspicious attacks" occurring recently in neighbouring nations such as Turkey, Kuwait and Iraq, and argued that Western media and hostile entities had inaccurately blamed Iranian forces for the incidents.

He emphasised that Iran's military activities are highly disciplined and restricted to specific targets.

The statement called for greater regional cooperation to counter what it described as deceptive tactics.

"It is essential that we trust one another and, by maintaining unity and cooperation, deter the aggressor enemy from these tricks and vicious behaviours," the spokesman said.

He added that "the intelligent reactions of the authorities of the regional countries to these deceitful and vicious movements will thwart this conspiracy from the outset."

The report comes amid a backdrop of various drone strikes on residential areas and diplomatic sites throughout the conflict. Tehran has consistently maintained that it was not responsible for attacks on non-military targets.

Supporting this position, the spokesman referenced a March 3 confirmation from the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence which stated that a drone striking the Royal Air Force Akrotiri base in Cyprus was not launched from Iran.

Press TV also cited previous remarks by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who accused Israel of orchestrating drone strikes in Azerbaijan to sabotage Tehran's foreign relations.

Alireza Enayati, Iran's ambassador to Saudi Arabia, has also denied involvement in an alleged strike on the US embassy in Riyadh.

The latest reported incident involved a strike on the Lanaz refinery in the Iraqi Kurdistan region on Saturday. Iranian military sources stated that the attack was not connected to Iran or its allies.

(With inputs from ANI)