NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-03-2026 1AM EST

Episode Date: March 3, 2026

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Live from NPR News, I'm Jail Snyder. War in the Middle East widened Monday with waves of attacks by the U.S. and Israel on Iran and Iran, striking back on targets in the Gulf and as far afield as Cyprus. The Lebanese militia group Hezbollah has also entered the fray. NPR's Jane Arraf is in Amman. The militant group Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, fired into Israel for the first time and over a year in retaliation for the killing of Ayatollah Ali Hamani on Saturday. Lebanese officials said Israeli counterattacks killed at least 52 people and wounded 149 others. So here's the thing. The Lebanese government agreed with the U.S. that Hezbollah would disarm.

And now it's saying it will arrest the Hezbollah members responsible for the rocket attack on Israel. So that raises the specter of Lebanese fighting Lebanese. And that's in a country which has suffered years of civil war. NPR's Jane Arraf in Amman, France meanwhile, calling on the military escalation to stop as Hezbollah enters the fight and Israel bombs the southern suburbs of Beirut. MPRs-Helenor Beardsley reports the French foreign minister says prolonged military operations without a precise goal carries enormous risks. French foreign minister, Jean-Nuel Barrow, said the U.S. and Israel's unilateral bombing campaign should have been debated in the United Nations, as imperfect as the institution is. Only through debate in the Security Council can the use of force be given a stamp of legitimacy, he said. At the same time, Barreau evoked Iran's responsibility and condemned its decades-long sewing of destruction and chaos in the region and its assault against its own citizens.

Barreau also said France is ready to defend its Gulf allies who are being indiscriminately attacked by Iran. There are some 400,000 French nationals living in the Middle East. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Paris. U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia telling Americans to avoid the embassy until further notice. And the embassy in Riyadh came under an Iranian drone attack Monday. Also, the State Department has ordered the evacuation of non-emergency personnel and family in Bahrain and Jordan and Iraq. One of Iran's already damaged nuclear sites has been struck. NPR's Jeff Brumfior reports.

Commercial satellite images showed a few buildings had been struck at Iran's main uranium enrichment site at Natanzas. According to the Institute for Science and International Security, which carefully monitors Iran's nuclear program, the buildings were entrances to an underground complex where Iran used to enrich uranium. But the Natanz site was heavily damaged in the U.S. strikes conducted in June of last year and hasn't operated since. Moreover, Iran's stocks of highly enriched uranium are thought to be held in another site. President Trump has cited Iran's nuclear and missile programs as a major reason he decided to attack the country. This is NPR. The FBI says it's investigating the mass shooting outside a bar in Austin, Texas over the weekend as a potential act of terrorism. Two people were killed, 14 others wounded before police fatally shot the gunman. Late Monday, police announced a third-person died of gunshot wounds in the attack. The shooting happened after the U.S. and Israel launched the attack on Iran.

Authorities say the suspect was wearing clothes with an Iranian flag design and the words property of Allah. Ahead of the 250th anniversary of America's founding, the Department of Education, has hung banners featuring notable people outside its building in Washington, including one that has sparked controversy. And Pierce-Tanakumeta reports. The faces of Catherine Beecher, who fought for women's education, and Booker T. Washington, who advocated for the educational rights of black people, hang alongside an image of the late right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. Kirk promoted conservative politics on college campuses, including on the day he was shot last year at Utah Valley University. A spokesperson for the Department of Education tells NPR, quote, We are proud to honor visionary leaders whose contributions have shaped the future of education for generations. The inclusion of Charlie Kirk alongside historically significant educators has sparked criticism,

including from those who point out that Kirk called for abolishing the very department of Education that is honoring him. Janaki Metha, NPR News. The financial markets in Asia, mostly lower in Tuesday trading, led by South Korea's benchmark, down more than 5.5%. I'm a concern about energy supplies. I'm Jail Snyder in PR News. This message comes from Wise, the app for international people using money around the

globe. You can send, spend, and receive in up to 40 currencies with only a few simple taps. Be smart. Get Wise. Download the Wise app. today or visit wise.com. T's and Cs apply.