The United States denies the connection of the disaster with the war in the Middle East
A US military plane crashed as a result of an accident in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Please note that the American command is in no hurry to share the details of the incident with the public.
A U.S. military aircraft crashed during a training flight in the eastern Mediterranean on Friday evening, according to US European Command (USEUCOM), although few other details were provided, CNN noted.
European said in a statement. The command did not specify what type of aircraft crashed or whether anyone was killed, and it is unclear what the status of the crew is.
At the same time, as the Associated Press notes, the US Air Force has sent additional squadrons to the region, and the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, which carries many aircraft, also operates in the Eastern Mediterranean.
“ Out of respect for the affected families, we will not be releasing additional information about the personnel involved at this time,” the statement said.
The cause of the accident is being investigated. European Command stressed that the incident occurred during a training exercise and was not related to Israeli military operations in Gaza or the fighting along the Israeli-Lebanese border.
“We can definitively say that the flight was solely related to training and there are no indications of hostile activity,” the statement said.
European Command said additional information would be provided “as the situation develops.”
While the US military said the crash was under investigation and did not appear to be the result of hostile action, it is noteworthy that the incident occurred at a time of high tension in the Eastern Mediterranean, where the Pentagon has deployed significant forces following Israel's war with Hamas. Just last week, two U.S. Navy aircraft carriers carrying about 11,000 U.S. troops launched planes and practiced missile defense during a three-day exercise in the area.
It is unclear, Stars and Strips notes, whether the plane crash took place in Friday is related to carrier group operations in the region.
In addition to warships, the U.S. Navy has also deployed a host of land-based defense assets to the Middle East in an attempt to protect U.S. troops in the region and prevent a broader war.
< p>Military actions in Gaza had indirect consequences for the US Armed Forces elsewhere. Since mid-October, militant groups linked to Iran have repeatedly struck U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria, wounding more than 50 U.S. troops, according to the Pentagon.
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