Six U.S. service members were killed after a U.S. Air Force KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, U.S. Central Command confirmed Friday.

In a statement, CENTCOM said, �All six crew members aboard a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft that went down in western Iraq are now confirmed deceased. The aircraft was lost while flying over friendly airspace March 12 during Operation Epic Fury.�

Officials said the circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation, but early indications show the aircraft was not brought down by hostile action.

�The circumstances of the incident are under investigation. However, the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire,� CENTCOM added.

The identities of the six service members have not yet been released.

�The identities of the service members are being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin have been notified,� the statement said.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth earlier honored those killed in the crash, describing the fallen troops as �American heroes.�

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)