Baghdad: All six crew members aboard a US KC-135 refueling aircraft that crashed in western Iraq on Thursday were killed, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Friday. "The circumstances of the incident are under investigation. However, the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire," CENTCOM stated.

According to Anadolu Agency, the identities of the service members are being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin have been notified, CENTCOM added. The command reported on Thursday that a refueling aircraft was lost over Iraq during Operation Epic Fury against Iran, which commenced last month.

CENTCOM disclosed that two aircraft were involved in the incident. One aircraft went down in western Iraq, while the second landed safely. This incident has drawn attention to the risks faced by service members engaged in ongoing military operations.

Earlier, addressing a news conference alongside Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth remarked on the inherent chaos of war, referencing the tragic crash of the KC-135 tanker. "War is chaos and as we saw yesterday with the tragic crash of our KC-135 tanker, bad things can happen," Hegseth said, highlighting the unpredictable nature of warfare.

Gen. Caine expressed the emotional toll on families, noting the difficult moments when families receive news of their loved ones' deaths. "Those are very, very, very tough days when that knock comes on the door," he said, underscoring the human cost of military service.

The recent fatalities bring the total number of US troops killed since Operation Epic Fury began on February 28 to 13, reflecting the ongoing challenges and sacrifices involved in the mission.