The United States (US) Department of Defense has identified the six Air Force personnel who died after a KC-135 refuelling aircraft crashed over western Iraq earlier this week.
In a statement issued on Saturday evening, the Pentagon said the airmen were supporting Operation Epic Fury at the time of the incident.
The aircraft went down in friendly airspace and the crash did not involve hostile or friendly fire, according to US Central Command.
The dead were named as Maj John A Klinner, 33, of Alabama; Capt Ariana G Savino, 31, of Washington state; Tech Sgt Ashley B Pruitt, 34, of Kentucky; Capt Seth R Koval, 38, of Indiana; Capt Curtis J Angst, 30, of Ohio; and Tech Sgt Tyler H Simmons, 28, also of Ohio.
Three of the personnel were assigned to the 6th Air Refuelling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida, while the remaining three served with the 121st Air Refuelling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Ohio.
All were operating as part of a deployed refuelling mission in support of US operations in the Middle East.
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The Pentagon said the search and recovery operation concluded on 13 March, and investigation into the circumstances of the crash is continuing, with further details to be released once they are available.
The incident brings to 13 the number of US service members killed during Operation Epic Fury.
About 140 American troops have been wounded since the campaign began, amid weeks of Iranian missile, rocket and drone attacks across the region.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said most of the injuries sustained so far had been minor, adding that 108 personnel had already returned to duty with eight service members remain severely injured.
Tributes have also been paid by state and military authorities. Matthew S Woodruff, the Ohio adjutant general, described the three Ohio-based airmen as “remarkable” and said their service “embodied the very best of our Ohio National Guard.”
“Our thoughts are with their families, friends and fellow service members as we grieve together during this difficult time,” he said.