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
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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.

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Mar 08, 2026, 10:30 AM GMT

More than 9,600 homes, commercial buildings damaged in Iran, Red Crescent says

At least 9,669 civilian sites, including homes and commercial sites, across Iran have been damaged in recent U.S.-Israeli airstrikes, Iran's Red Crescent Society said on Sunday.

According to a post on the IRCS's X account, the total number of those damaged or destroyed included at least 7,943 residential units, 32 medical and pharmaceutical centers, 65 schools and educational centers, and 1,617 commercial buildings.

-ABC News' Somayeh Malekian

Mar 08, 2026, 4:47 AM GMT

NYPD officer deployed with National Guard dies after medical episode in Kuwait

A NYPD officer deployed to Kuwait with the Army National Guard died on Friday after a medical episode, New York City officials announced.

Sorffly Davius was a major with the 42nd Infantry Division of the U.S. Army National Guard.

The NYPD is mourning the loss of one of its own who died while helping the U.S. offensive on Iran.

He joined the NYPD in 2014, according to a press release from the mayor's office.

"His career was defined by service -- to his country and to New York City," Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in a joint statement.

In a statement, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said remembered Davius as a "'Citizen Soldier' in every respect and said he died Friday at Camp Buehring in Kuwait.

"His life is a powerful reminder of the extraordinary sacrifices made by our National Guard members, who balance their roles as citizens, first responders, and soldiers," Hochul said in the statement. "Major Davius was a devoted husband and father. I personally conveyed my deepest condolences to his wife and will keep his family, colleagues, and all who knew him in my thoughts. We continue to pray for the safety of every service member and first responder protecting us at home and abroad."

Mar 08, 2026, 4:09 AM GMT

Israeli military says it attacked Iran oil facilities

Israel Defense Forces said in a statement Saturday evening that it struck several fuel storage depots in Tehran.

"The military forces of the Iranian terror regime use these fuel tanks directly and frequently to operate military infrastructure, and with their help, the Iranian terror regime transfers fuel to various consumers, including military entities in Iran," the IDF said in a statement.

-ABC News' Victoria Beaulé

Mar 07, 2026, 10:51 PM GMT

Trump rebuffs Kurdish forces, says ground troops could 'possibly' go into Iran

President Donald Trump said there could "possibly" be ground troops going into Iran, but "there would have to be very good reason" to send them.

"And I would say, if we ever did that, they would be so decimated that they wouldn't be able to fight at the ground level," he added.

Trump was strong in his opposition to the U.S. using Kurdish forces against Iran, saying "I've told them, I don't want them."

He added, "We're not looking to the Kurds going in. We're very friendly with the Kurds, as you know, but we don't want to make the war any more complex than it already is. I don't want the Kurds going in," Trump said.

-ABC News' Isabella Murray