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.

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ByBader Katy ABCNews logo
Mar 02, 2026, 8:10 PM GMT

Over 70 drones and missile attacks reported in Erbil: Iraqi FM

More than 70 missile and drone attacks on the Iraqi city of Erbil have been reported in recent days, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said Monday.

Iraq has become a "victim of this war," Hussein said he told the United Arab Emirates foreign minister in a phone call after the reported strikes, noting that different parties to the conflict were carrying out attacks on Iraqi territory.

The strikes targeted Erbil International Airport and the nearby Harir Air Base, according to a statement from the Islamic Resistance in Iraq.

ByShannon Kingston ABCNews logo
Mar 02, 2026, 7:24 PM GMT

State Department advises Americans in Iran to leave now by land

In a security alert released Monday, the State Department advised Americans in Iran to shelter in place, but also said, "if safe to do so, Americans should leave Iran now by land."

A couple from New Hampshire is stranded in the United Arab Emirates as Iran, Israel and the U.S. trade fire.

"Be aware the Iranian government may restrict or prevent departures from Iran. U.S.-Iranian dual nationals must exit Iran on Iranian passports," the alert said.

ABCNews logo
Mar 02, 2026, 6:54 PM GMT

US uses strategic bombers for 2nd night in a row

U.S. Central Command said on social media that B-1 bombers "struck deep inside Iran to degrade Iranian ballistic missile capabilities" on Sunday night. This follows the use of B-2 stealth bombers on Saturday night.

ByLuis Martinez ABCNews logo
Mar 02, 2026, 5:45 PM GMT

18 US service members seriously wounded: CENTCOM

Eighteen U.S. service members have been seriously wounded as part of the military operation against Iran, according to CENTCOM spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins.

Earlier Monday, CENTCOM announced the death of a fourth U.S. service member. Two U.S. officials have told ABC News that the service member was killed in Sunday's attack in Kuwait.

At Monday morning's Pentagon news conference, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine told reporters that the fatalities and injuries had come from an attack on a tactical operations center.