Six American service members were killed Thursday when a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft went down in western Iraq, U.S. Central Command confirmed.

CENTCOM announced the deaths in a statement posted on social media, saying, “All six crew members aboard a US KC-135 refueling aircraft that went down in western Iraq are now confirmed deceased.”

Earlier reports from the military had confirmed that four of the crew members had died in the crash.

U.S. Central Command also said that preliminary information indicates the aircraft did not go down as a result of hostile or friendly fire. Officials added that the cause of the crash remains under investigation.

The Islamic Resistance of Iraq, an umbrella group made up of Iran-aligned factions, has asserted that it carried out the attack. The organization, however, has not presented any proof supporting that claim.

Another aircraft was reportedly involved in the incident as well. According to Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, that plane was able to continue its flight and land safely in Israel.

{Matzav.com}