The aircraft was conducting aerial refueling missions tied to the ongoing U.S. strikes on Iran when the crash occurred. The U.S. military said the incident involved another aircraft but was not caused by hostile action or friendly fire. Officials said the circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation.

Three of the airmen were assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base. The Defense Department identified them as Major John A. Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Alabama; Captain Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, Washington; and Technical Sergeant Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Kentucky.

The remaining three airmen served with the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base. They were identified as Captain Seth R. Koval, 38, of Mooresville, Indiana; Captain Curtis J. Angst, 30, of Wilmington, Ohio; and Technical Sergeant Tyler H. Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio.

U.S. officials have not released further details about the sequence of events leading to the crash as the investigation continues.

Speaking at a Pentagon briefing, Hegseth said the younger Khamenei had issued only a written statement following the attacks and had not appeared publicly in audio or video since an Israeli strike early in the war killed members of his family, including his father, former Iranian leader Ali Khamenei.

“We know the new so-called not-so-supreme leader is wounded and likely disfigured,” Hegseth said. He added that the absence of a public appearance suggested the Iranian leader was injured and in hiding, questioning his legitimacy and ability to govern.Iranian officials have acknowledged that Mojtaba Khamenei was wounded but dispute the severity of the injuries.

Iran’s ambassador to Japan, Peyman Saadat, told Asahi TV that the Iranian leader had suffered injuries during the conflict but remained capable of carrying out his duties. “He is a functioning leader,” Saadat said, adding that his condition had not impaired his ability to govern.

Hegseth and Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said U.S. military operations in Iran have focused on degrading Tehran’s missile and drone capabilities as well as elements of its naval forces.

The briefing came as Washington increased military pressure on Iran following nearly two weeks of strikes carried out by the United States and Israel against Iranian military infrastructure.

Officials said additional U.S. firepower was being sent to the region as the conflict widened across the Middle East.

During the briefing, Hegseth said U.S. forces would continue their campaign without easing pressure on Iran’s military.

“We will keep pressing, keep pushing, keep advancing,” Hegseth said. “No quarter, no mercy for our enemy.

”The phrase “no quarter” refers to refusing to spare an opponent who attempts to surrender, a practice prohibited under the laws of armed conflict.

Reports during the conflict have indicated Iranian drone activity in several countries across the Gulf and Middle East, including Kuwait, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Oman.

The fighting has also affected U.S. forces in the region. Six U.S. service members died in an aircraft crash in Iraq during the conflict, U.S. officials said.

In a social media post, Trump said U.S. forces had “totally obliterated every MILITARY target” on the island while deliberately leaving oil export infrastructure intact. Kharg Island, located about 16 miles (26 km) off Iran’s coast, handles roughly 90% of Iran’s oil exports.

The president said the decision not to strike oil facilities could be reconsidered if Iran or other actors interfere with the “Free and Safe Passage of Ships” through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime route through which roughly a fifth of global oil supply moves.

Iran has been attacking vessels in the waterway during the conflict, halting most commercial shipping traffic and intensifying volatility in energy markets.

Kharg Island lies roughly 300 miles (483 km) northwest of the Strait of Hormuz and serves as Iran’s principal crude export terminal. Satellite imagery reviewed by tanker monitoring service TankerTrackers.com showed multiple very large crude carriers loading at the island earlier this week.

Despite escalating military tensions in the Gulf, Iran has continued shipping crude from Kharg. Between Feb. 28, when the conflict began, and Wednesday, exports ranged between 1.1 million and 1.5 million barrels per day.

Other Gulf producers have temporarily halted shipments because of security concerns linked to Iranian attacks on shipping routes.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Trump declined to provide a timeline for the conflict’s conclusion.

“I can’t tell you that,” the president said. “I mean, I have my own idea, but what good does it do? It’ll be as long as it’s necessary.

”Oil markets have fluctuated sharply in recent days as investors reacted to shifting signals from Washington about the duration and scope of the conflict.

The United States is sending additional military forces to the Middle East as tensions with Iran escalate around the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump also said Iran had “no ability to defend against U.S. attacks,” urging Iranian forces to lay down their arms.

The confrontation has raised concerns among energy analysts and governments about the risk of a prolonged disruption to global oil supply, with the International Energy Agency previously warning that the conflict could trigger one of the largest supply shocks in modern energy markets.

The estimate, presented to members of Congress on Tuesday, represents only a partial accounting of the costs incurred since the military campaign began on Feb. 28 with coordinated U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian targets.

The White House has not publicly released an overall assessment of the war’s cost or provided a timeline for how long the conflict might continue.

Several congressional aides said the administration is expected to submit a request to lawmakers for additional war funding in the coming weeks. Estimates discussed among officials suggest the request could reach about $50 billion, though some aides cautioned that figure may underestimate the eventual cost.

Members of Congress will likely be required to approve any additional funding package as the Pentagon seeks resources to sustain operations and replenish weapons stocks used during the campaign.

Administration officials told lawmakers that roughly $5.6 billion worth of munitions were expended during the first two days of strikes alone, underscoring the intensity of the opening phase of the campaign.

Some lawmakers have voiced concern that the pace of weapons use could strain U.S. military inventories at a time when defense manufacturers are already working to expand production capacity to meet global demand.

Last week, Trump met with executives from seven defense contractors as the Pentagon explored ways to accelerate replenishment of critical weapons systems and other military supplies.

Democratic lawmakers have called for public testimony under oath from administration officials to clarify the strategy and objectives of the war, including its expected duration and Washington’s plans for Iran once active combat operations end.

Speaking during a visit to Kentucky on Wednesday, Trump said “we won” the war but indicated that U.S. forces would remain engaged until operations were completed.

The conflict has expanded beyond Iran’s borders into Lebanon and has disrupted global energy markets and maritime transport routes. Around 2,000 people have been killed so far, most of them in Iran and Lebanon, according to figures cited in the briefing.

The Status of Forces Agreement, or SOFA, was approved by Paraguay’s Chamber of Deputies with 53 votes in favor, eight against and four abstentions out of 80 lawmakers, while 15 were absent. The agreement now awaits the signature of President Santiago Peña before taking effect.

The deal, signed in Washington in December, establishes the legal framework governing the presence of U.S. personnel in Paraguay for training exercises, joint operations and humanitarian assistance missions.

The agreement allows U.S. security forces to operate temporarily within Paraguay for military training, multinational exercises and disaster response efforts. It also grants the United States criminal jurisdiction over its personnel while they are stationed in the country.

Paraguayan Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano described the agreement in December as a measure aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in combating transnational organized crime and terrorism. He also said the agreement does not allow the establishment of permanent U.S. military bases in Paraguay.

The treaty had already been approved by Paraguay’s Senate last week following a more polarized debate that included concerns from some lawmakers about sovereignty and legal protections granted to foreign personnel.

Several legislators opposed the agreement, arguing that provisions granting immunity from local prosecution could undermine national sovereignty. Independent congressman Raúl Benítez said during the debate that while Paraguay supports international cooperation, it must also preserve “strong states, respected institutions and real democratic sovereignty.

”Civil society groups also criticized the pact ahead of the vote. The regional organization Peace and Justice Service said in a statement that security should not depend on the presence of foreign troops or legal protections equivalent to diplomatic immunity.

Washington welcomed the deal as part of broader security cooperation in the region. Marco Rubio, the U.S. secretary of state, described the agreement as “historic,” saying it would facilitate bilateral and multinational training, humanitarian assistance and disaster response.

The approval comes as the Trump administration seeks to expand U.S. engagement in Latin America as part of its national security strategy, including deeper defense cooperation with regional partners.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting in Seoul, Lee acknowledged domestic debate over the reported transfer of U.S. military equipment from South Korea, including artillery batteries and air-defence systems.

“It appears that there is controversy recently over U.S. Forces in Korea shipping some weapons, such as artillery batteries and air-defence weapons, out of the country,” Lee said, adding that while South Korea had expressed opposition, it was not in a position to make demands regarding U.S. operational decisions.

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said last week that the U.S. and South Korean militaries were discussing the possible redeployment of some Patriot missile system batteries stationed in South Korea for use in the conflict in the Middle East.

Local media reported that some of the systems were shipped from Osan Air Base and could be redeployed to U.S. military installations in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, though South Korean authorities have not confirmed the reports.

Lee said the reported removal of certain U.S. weapons would not undermine South Korea’s deterrence posture toward North Korea.

He noted that South Korea’s defence spending and conventional military capabilities exceed those of North Korea, suggesting that the country remains capable of maintaining security despite potential adjustments to U.S. deployments.

The discussions come as U.S. and Israeli forces continue strikes on strategic targets inside Iran as part of a military campaign that U.S. President Donald Trump has said is intended to cripple Iran’s nuclear weapons programme and ballistic missile capabilities.

The incident occurred during the first day of coordinated U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran.The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the investigation remains open and that new evidence could potentially attribute responsibility elsewhere. They declined to provide details on the type of munition used, what evidence informed the preliminary assessment, or the rationale for the potential strike.Pentagon and White House statementsU.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed on Wednesday that the Pentagon is conducting an investigation into the incident, emphasizing that the U.S. military does not target civilian sites. “We’re investigating that. We, of course, never target civilian targets. But we’re taking a look and investigating that,” Hegseth told reporters.The Pentagon referred inquiries to U.S. Central Command. Its spokesperson, Captain Timothy Hawkins, stated, “It would be inappropriate to comment given the incident is under investigation.”

The White House declined to directly address U.S. responsibility, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt asserting that Iran targets civilians and children, not U.S. forces.U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated on Monday that the United States would not deliberately strike a school. “The Department of War would be investigating that if that was our strike, and I would refer your question to them,” Rubio said.Casualties and ongoing military operationsIranian officials, including Ambassador Ali Bahreini at the United Nations in Geneva, reported that 150 students were killed in the Minab strike, although Reuters could not independently verify the toll.

The attack took place amid the initial wave of U.S. and Israeli strikes targeting Iranian military infrastructure.According to a senior Israeli official and a source with knowledge of joint operational planning, Israeli and U.S. forces have coordinated attacks geographically and by target type. Israel has focused on missile launch sites in western Iran, while U.S. forces have concentrated on southern targets, including naval facilities.The incident underscores the complex operational environment in southern Iran, where civilian areas are in proximity to military targets, and highlights the challenges of real-time verification during active hostilities.Investigation scope and implicationsThe U.S. inquiry is ongoing, and officials did not indicate how long it might continue or what specific evidence is being sought.

They stressed that preliminary assessments are subject to revision as further information becomes available. Analysts note that confirmation of U.S. responsibility could have significant diplomatic and legal ramifications, potentially influencing both U.S.-Iran relations and international perceptions of the military campaign.The investigation continues alongside active hostilities, with both U.S. and Israeli forces maintaining offensive operations against Iranian military installations, underscoring the evolving and high-stakes nature of the conflict.