Seventh American service member dies in Iran war
A seventh U.S. service member has died from injuries sustained in Iran’s initial counterattack as conflicts continue across the Middle East.
The U.S. military announced on Sunday, March 8, more than a week after the conflict began, that a seventh American service member has been killed in the ongoing war with Iran.
The American soldier died from wounds sustained in Iran’s first counterattack a week ago, U.S. Central Command said. The Pentagon said the individual was “seriously injured” in a March 1 attack on U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia.
The identity of the service member will not be released to the public until 24 hours after his or her family is notified, the Pentagon said.
Six other American service members were killed in an Iranian drone attack in Kuwait. President Donald Trump and several senior administration officials attended a dignified transfer ceremony for six service members on Saturday, March 7, at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.
The six soldiers are Capt. Cody A. Koch, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Sergeant 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska. Sergeant First Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota. Declan J. Cody, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa, Sgt. The U.S. military said Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien, 45, of Waukee, Iowa, and Warrant Officer Robert Marzan, 3, 54, of Sacramento, California, were also killed in the attack.
In the aftermath of the joint US-Israeli attack on Iran on February 28, Iran responded with its own attacks against both Israel and US allies in the Middle East and Persian Gulf region. Iran’s counterattack also targeted U.S. forces stationed across the Middle East, including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
President Trump has said he expects more American casualties in this endless war, which could last more than four weeks.
Iran’s counterattack left more than a dozen people dead in several Middle Eastern countries, including at least 10 Israeli civilians. According to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, more than 1,300 people have been killed in Iranian attacks by the US and Israel. In Lebanon, on March 8, the Lebanese Minister of Health announced that nearly 400 people had been killed in Israeli airstrikes.
Kathryn Palmer is USA TODAY’s political reporter. She can be reached at the following address: kapalmer@usatoday.com And with X@Kathryn Purml. Sign up for her daily politics newsletter here.
