Six killed in U.S. refueling plane crash as Iran war escalates and new supreme leader reportedly wounded

The conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran intensified Saturday after a U.S. military refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq, killing all six crew members, while American officials said Iran’s new supreme leader was likely wounded during recent strikes and oil markets surged amid continued fighting in the Gulf.

U.S. Central Command said the aircraft went down in western Iraq during operations linked to the ongoing war with Iran. Officials confirmed that all six service members on board were killed. The military said early findings show the crash was not caused by enemy fire or hostile action, though an investigation is underway.

The deadly accident came as the Pentagon ordered additional troops to the region. U.S. officials said about 5,000 Marines and sailors are being deployed to the Middle East to support operations as the conflict enters another intense phase. The move signals that the United States expects fighting to continue despite growing international concern about the risk of a wider regional war.

President Donald Trump sharply criticized Iran’s leadership and warned that the heaviest strikes of the war could still be ahead. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the United States and Israel were preparing the highest volume of attacks yet against Iranian targets, including sites in Tehran and other major cities.

Hegseth also claimed that Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was wounded during recent airstrikes and may have been disfigured. Iranian state media later released a written statement attributed to Khamenei, in which he vowed to continue blocking shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and to keep targeting countries that support the U.S. and Israel.

The fighting has pushed energy markets higher, with oil prices rising above $100 per barrel after Iran launched new attacks across the Persian Gulf. The Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important shipping routes in the world, remains under threat, and disruptions there have raised fears of a global supply crisis.

In an effort to control prices, the Trump administration eased sanctions on Russian oil exports, hoping additional supply would stabilize markets. The decision drew criticism from European leaders and Ukraine, who argued the move could weaken pressure on Moscow during the ongoing war in Eastern Europe.

Trump defended the policy, saying the United States would benefit economically even as the conflict continued, and predicted shipping would soon resume through the strait.

Casualties continue to climb across several countries as the war spreads. Iranian officials said more than 1,200 people have been killed by U.S. and Israeli strikes, while U.S. officials confirmed that 13 American service members have died, along with two additional deaths from noncombat causes.

Hundreds more deaths have been reported in Lebanon, and additional casualties have occurred in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates as missile attacks and airstrikes hit multiple locations.

Tensions widened further after an Iranian official warned that Ukraine could be considered a legitimate target if it continues helping the United States with drone defense technology. The warning followed reports that Ukrainian specialists were assisting in counter-drone operations in the Middle East.

With new troop deployments, rising oil prices, and fighting spreading across land, sea, and air, the war shows little sign of slowing, raising fears that the conflict could draw in more countries in the coming days.