The bodies of six United States service members killed in a drone strike linked to Iran have been returned to the US, arriving on Friday at Dover Air Force Base.

The troops were killed in a March 1 drone attack on a command centre in Kuwait City, days after US President Donald Trump ordered military strikes on Iran alongside Israel on February 28.

The operation triggered retaliatory missile and drone attacks by Iran targeting US positions and allied facilities in the region.

US officials identified the fallen service members as Maj. Jeffrey R. O’Brien, 45; Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan, 54; Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35; Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39; and Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20.

According to the White House, President Trump also attended the ceremony honouring the service members.

A dignified transfer is a military procedure in which the remains of US personnel killed in the line of duty are formally returned to the country.

After arrival at Dover Air Force Base, the remains are taken to the Charles C. Carson Centre for Mortuary Affairs for identification by the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System before being prepared for burial.

The six troops are the first US military personnel killed since the launch of US-Israeli strikes against Iran last month.

More than 1,000 people have reportedly died in the fighting so far, including Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.