The conflict in the Middle East stretched into its third week this Sunday as Israel launched a fresh wave of airstrikes targeting western Iran. Amid the intensifying regional violence, the U.S. Department of Defense officially released the identities of six service members killed when their KC-135 refueling aircraft went down over Western Iraq on March 12.
The Pentagon stated that the loss of the Stratotanker was not the result of hostile action or friendly fire, though an Iranian proxy group has publicly claimed responsibility for the downing. Military officials confirmed an active investigation into the cause of the crash is currently underway.
Three of the deceased airmen were stationed at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida.
They were identified as Maj. John A. Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Ala., Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, Wash., and Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Ky.
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The remaining three crew members were assigned to the Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio. Those service members were Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38, of Mooresville, Ind., Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30, of Wilmington, Ohio; and Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio.
With these latest casualties, the total U.S. military death toll in the current conflict has risen to 13. According to Pentagon records, seven of those deaths were the result of enemy fire. Additionally, eight U.S. service members have sustained severe injuries since the hostilities began.
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