What happened

Iran struck Prince Sultan Air Base in Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia, on 1 March 2026, wounding U.S. troops as part of the same retaliatory wave of attacks that killed six soldiers at Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, the same day. Staff Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington of the 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade, died on 8 March from injuries sustained in the attack and was posthumously promoted; he was reported as the seventh U.S. service member to die during Operation Epic Fury. This record is limited to the 1 March event and casualty; it is distinct from separately recorded later strikes at the same base on 16 March (KC-135 tanker damage) and 27 March.

When cited sources give different casualty, damage or spill figures for this event, they’re reported side by side above rather than merged into one number. See how confidence levels work.