Army Sgt. Benjamin Pennington Dies in Saudi Base Attack

Army Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, a 26-year-old soldier from Glendale, Kentucky, died Sunday from injuries sustained in an attack on U.S. troops at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia on March 1, the Pentagon announced Monday. His death marks the seventh U.S. service member killed in combat since the start of the U.S.- and Israel-led military operation against Iran on February 28.

Pennington, who enlisted in the Army shortly after graduating from Central Hardin High School in 2017, was assigned to the 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade, part of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command at Fort Carson, Colorado. He joined the unit in June 2025 as a unit supply specialist. The battalion provides support in missile warning, GPS, and satellite communications for military operations. Military officials described him as a dedicated noncommissioned officer who demonstrated professionalism and a strong sense of duty.

The attack on Prince Sultan Air Base occurred amid Iran's retaliatory strikes following the initial U.S. and Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian military infrastructure. Pennington was wounded during the incident and received medical treatment before his...