Five US soldiers killed in military exercise

The Pentagon announced the death of 5 American servicemen due a military aircraft crash in the Mediterranean Sea during a training operation on November 10, according to statement by United States European Command Public Affairs Department. 

The incident was "purely related to training and there are no indications of hostile activity," said the US European Command.

The announcement came after initially reporting a plane crash without mentioning casualties last Friday.

Prior to the crash, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin had ordered the preparation of approximately 2,000 US soldiers in response to the tense situation in the Middle East.

The Pentagon disclosed that Austin approved the extension of the Gerald Ford aircraft carrier's deployment in the region to support Tel Aviv in its war with Gaza as its original deployment period neared its end.