Iran live updates: 7th killed service member is identified

Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, was killed in Saudi Arabia.

ByDavid Brennan, Jon Haworth, Kevin Shalvey, Leah Sarnoff, Meredith Deliso, Nadine El-Bawab, and Bill Hutchinson ABCNews logo
Last updated: Monday, March 9, 2026 3:00PM GMT
ABC News Live

President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israel strikes attack targeting military and government sites, officials said.

Iranian state television confirmed that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was among those killed in Tehran on the first day of strikes. His son Mojtaba Khamenei was chosen on Sunday to succeed him.

Iran is responding to the operation with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel, regional U.S. bases and multiple Gulf nations. Israel is also intensifying its long-running strike campaign against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.

------

For updates in Spanish, click here.

ByAnne Flaherty ABCNews logo
Mar 06, 2026, 7:17 PM GMT

US believes Russia is providing Iran intelligence, including locations of troops: Sources

The U.S. believes that Russia has been providing Iran the locations of American troops in the region, including aircraft and ships, according to two people familiar with the intelligence. An intelligence official confirmed the U.S. belief that Russia is providing intelligence to Iran.

The assistance, first reported by The Washington Post, is alarming because it would enable the Iranians to target specific locations with ballistic missiles and drones, putting U.S. service members at risk.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt did not deny the report on Friday, instead saying it didn't matter because the U.S. was still winning the war.

"It clearly is not making a difference with respect to the military operations in Iran, because we are completely decimating them," Leavitt told reporters.

Six U.S. service members were killed last weekend during an Iranian drone attack on a base in Kuwait. At least 10 other troops have been severely wounded in operations across the region.

The CIA declined to comment and the Defense Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Russia has not addressed the allegations, but Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said previously that Iran hasn't asked for help.

Full story here.

ABCNews logo
Mar 06, 2026, 6:57 PM GMT

24,000 Americans have returned to US from Middle East

The State Department says it's aware of 24,000 Americans who have safely returned to the U.S. from the Middle East since Saturday.

At least two government charter flights have flown directly from the Middle East to the U.S.

The State Department said it is working to proactively call Americans to offer charter flights or ground transportation.

-ABC News' Shannon Kingston

ABCNews logo
Mar 06, 2026, 5:28 PM GMT

IDF says over 400 targets struck in Iran on Friday

The Israel Defense Forces said more than 400 targets, including ballistic missile launchers and drone storage facilities, were struck in several areas of Iran on Friday.

ABCNews logo
Mar 06, 2026, 5:27 PM GMT

Trump to attend dignified transfer on Saturday, White House says

On Saturday, President Donald Trump will attend the dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base for the six service members killed in an Iranian retaliatory strike in Kuwait, a White House official confirmed.

"We grieve for these American patriots and their families as we continue the righteous mission for which they gave their lives. President Trump intends to attend the dignified transfer of these American heroes to stand in grief alongside their families," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday.

Rep. Zach Nuun, R-Iowa, said he'll also attend.

-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart