All six crew members aboard a US KC-135 refueling aircraft that crashed in western Iraq have been confirmed dead, the US military said on Friday.

According to the US Central Command (CentCOM), the aircraft went down on March 12 while flying over friendly airspace during an operational mission linked to Operation Epic Fury.

Earlier reports had confirmed four fatalities while recovery operations were still underway. In a statement posted on X, CentCOM confirmed that all six personnel on board the aircraft had died.

“The aircraft was lost while flying over friendly airspace March 12 during Operation Epic Fury,” the statement said, adding that the circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation.

Military officials clarified that the loss of the aircraft was not caused by hostile fire or friendly fire. The identities of the crew members are being withheld until their families are notified.

The KC-135 tanker, a long-serving aerial refueling aircraft used by the US Air Force for more than six decades, is typically operated by a crew that includes a pilot, co-pilot and boom operator responsible for mid-air refueling. Some missions may also involve additional personnel such as navigators.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East as conflict between US and Iranian forces continues to escalate across the region.

Earlier during the ongoing conflict, Kuwaiti forces mistakenly shot down three US F-15E fighter jets in a friendly fire incident over Kuwait. In that case, all six crew members managed to eject safely.

The broader regional confrontation, which began on February 28, has involved missile, drone and air strikes across several locations in the Middle East, raising concerns about further escalation.

US officials have said investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the KC-135 crash.