Pentagon Confirms Kentucky Sgt. Killed After Iranian Missile Strike in Saudi Arabia
A Kentucky soldier has been identified as the seventh American service member killed in the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran.
The Pentagon confirmed that Army Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, of Glendale, Kentucky, died March 8 after suffering injuries during an Iranian missile and drone attack on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia on March 1. According to the Department of Defense and Associated Press reporting, Pennington had been stationed with the 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade at Fort Carson, Colorado, part of the Army’s missile defense command.
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His death raises the confirmed number of U.S. combat fatalities in the current Iran conflict to seven. Six other American troops were killed in a separate Iranian drone strike earlier the same day on a base in Kuwait.
Pennington’s remains were returned to the United States during a solemn dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base, where Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth joined family members and military officials.
Military leaders said the soldier enlisted in 2017 and will be posthumously promoted to staff sergeant as investigations continue into the attack that caused his injuries.
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