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 09, 2026, 10:45 AM GMT

3 injured as Iranian missiles target central Israel, emergency responders say

Two men were in serious condition in Israel after an Iranian missile attack targeted the center of the country, Magen David Adom, the Israeli emergency response organization, said in Hebrew in on social media.

"In another incident in the center of the country, Magen David Adom medics and paramedics are providing medical treatment and evacuating a man approximately 30 years old in serious condition with shrapnel injuries to Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer," the organization said in an update on social media.

The Israel Defense Forces said in an update that its personnel were responding to the impact sites.

Mar 09, 2026, 2:27 AM GMT

US orders evacuation of non-emergency government employees from Saudi Arabia

The State Department on Sunday ordered the evacuation of non-emergency government employees and their families from Saudi Arabia, updating earlier guidance that authorized them to depart due to safety risks. Saudi Arabia remains a Level 3 "Reconsider Travel" country for U.S. citizens.

The U.S. embassy in Saudi Arabia remains operational with core staff in place, according to the State Department.

-ABC News' Chris Boccia

Mar 09, 2026, 2:27 AM GMT

More missile and drone attacks reported in the region

Continued missile and drone strikes were reported across the Middle East in the early hours of Monday morning.

The Qatari Ministry of Defense said that armed forces intercepted a missile attack.

The Ministry of Defense in Saudi Arabia said it intercepted and destroyed two drones heading toward the Shaybah field.

The Bahrain Interior Ministry said in a statement that warning sirens were sounding, writing, "citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place."

The Kuwait Army said air defenses were confronting hostile missile and drone attacks.

Mar 09, 2026, 2:27 AM GMT

Hegseth talks ongoing war with Iran in '60 Minutes' interview: 'They will surrender'

In a wide-ranging interview with "60 Minutes," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. mission in Iran was "on track" and that surrender would be achieved by degrading Iran's military power.

He said the U.S. was not fighting a regime-change war, and that the military mission did not involve ushering a new government into power.

Hegseth said the U.S. would extinguish the nuclear threat posed by Iran, and that the Pentagon has options "to get after" highly enriched uranium that remains in the country.

Speaking of the campaign, Hegseth said, "This is only just the beginning."

-ABC News' Chris Boccia