The U.S. military has identified a seventh American service member killed in the war against Iran.

Sgt. Benjamin Pennington, 26, of Glendale, Kentucky, died on March 8 from wounds sustained during an Iranian attack on March 1 at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, the Pentagon said on March 9. He was assigned to the First Space Battalion, First Space Brigade at Fort Carson, Colorado.

The incident remains under investigation.

“The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command is deeply saddened by the loss of Sgt. Pennington,” Lt. Gen. Sean A. Gainey, the commanding general, said in a statement. “He gave the ultimate sacrifice for the country he loved. That makes him nothing less than a hero, and he will always be remembered that way. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.”

Col. Michael F. Dyer, commander of the First Space Brigade, described Pennington as “a dedicated and experienced noncommissioned officer who led with strength, professionalism, and a strong sense of duty.”

Pennington enlisted in the Army in 2017 as a unit supply specialist and joined the First Space Battalion, First Space Brigade of the Army Space and Missile Defense Command on June 10, 2025.

His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Korea Defense Service Medal, and Army Service Ribbon.

Pennington will be posthumously promoted to staff sergeant, according to Army Space and Missile Defense Command.

Six other U.S. soldiers have been killed since the war with Iran began on Feb. 28. All were members of the Army Reserve and died in an Iranian drone strike on a command center in Kuwait.

They were Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa; Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Sgt. First Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa; Chief Warrant Officer Three Robert Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California; and Sgt. First Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota.

The soldiers were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, which provides supplies, transportation equipment, fuel, ammunition, food, and water to military units.

War Secretary Pete Hegseth said additional casualties are likely. The war has already resulted in the deaths of a number of Iranian leaders, including Iranian leader Ali Khamenei.

“There will be more casualties,” Hegseth said in an interview with CBS’s “60 Minutes” that aired on March 8.

“Our generation ... knows what it’s like to see Americans come home in caskets,“ he said. ”But that doesn’t weaken us one bit. It stiffens our spine and our resolve to say this is a fight we will finish.”