ISLAMABAD, 03 MAR (DNA) — The Middle East war intensified on March 3, 2026, as Israeli forces launched fresh airstrikes on military targets in Iran’s capital, Tehran, and Lebanon’s capital, Beirut. The Israeli military described the simultaneous attacks as targeting Iranian military installations and Iran-backed Hezbollah positions in southern Beirut suburbs. Smoke rose over Beirut’s southern districts, with reports of mass civilian displacement following evacuation orders.
Israel also announced that ground troops would advance further into southern Lebanon to seize additional strategic areas, aiming to prevent rocket and drone fire on Israeli border communities. This follows Hezbollah’s claims of launching drones and missiles at Israeli targets in response to the broader conflict. Iran’s retaliation continued across the region. The US Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was struck by two drones—attributed to Iran—causing a limited fire and minor damage, according to Saudi authorities. No injuries were reported, but the embassy issued shelter-in-place alerts for Americans in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dhahran, and canceled consular services.
On Monday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that “the hardest hits” on Iran are “yet to come,” defending the US-Israeli strikes as preemptive against imminent threats to American forces. US President Donald Trump reiterated criticisms of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for initially denying access to British bases, like Diego Garcia, for operations against Iran, calling it disappointing and straining the special relationship—though Britain later allowed limited defensive use.
Energy markets reacted sharply to the disruptions. International natural gas prices surged, rising 30% at one point Tuesday morning after 50% spikes on Monday, driven by attacks on facilities, halted LNG production in Qatar, and threats to the Strait of Hormuz shipping route. The conflict erupted Saturday with US-Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, prompting Iran’s wave of regional attacks. The US urged Americans in the Middle East to “depart now” amid embassy closures and evacuations in several countries. — DNA
