HAVANA TIMES – We bring you some of the top international news stories compiled by Democracy Now on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
Death Toll Climbs to 787 as U.S. and Israel Step Up Bombings Across Iran
Mar 03, 2026
Image Credit: Erfan Kouchari/Parspix/ABACA
Iran’s state broadcaster says U.S. and Israeli attacks have killed 787 people since Donald Trump joined Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a massive bombing campaign, striking 153 cities and more than 500 sites across Iran since Saturday. Much of the violence is directed at Iran’s capital Tehran, where thunderous explosions rang out for the third night in a row and into the daylight hours. Residents woke to scenes of widespread destruction, with city streets littered with debris from collapsed buildings. One attack hit Niloofar Square in eastern Tehran, flattening buildings and killing over 20 people. Drop Site News reports two explosions hit the area — a smaller strike followed by a larger “double tap” attack that devastated much of the neighborhood. On Monday, mourners in the city of Minab held a mass funeral for 165 schoolgirls and staff killed on Saturday, on the first day of the U.S.-Israeli strikes, when a missile struck a girls’ school.
Meanwhile, red alert sirens have been activated across much of Israel, with the Israeli military reporting missile interceptions over West Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Eilat. On Monday, Ali Larijani, the secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council, warned, “Iran, unlike the United States, has prepared itself for a long war.”
Iran Says There’s Been No Release of Radiation After Strike on Natanz Nuclear Facility
Mar 03, 2026
Iran’s nuclear agency says there’s been no leakage of radiological materials after a strike on its Natanz nuclear facility by the U.S.-Israeli coalition. Officials said the strike damaged the entrance to the site in Isfahan province, but there were no signs of increased radiation. On Monday, Rafael Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency said he’d seen no indication that Iran’s nuclear facilities have been damaged during the latest U.S.-Israeli attacks.
Rafael Grossi: “We haven’t seen major military activity targeting the nuclear facilities. We have been looking at different satellite images. There might be something there, but not significant or comparable in any way to what we saw last time.”
Gulf Nations’ Stockpiles of Interceptors Dwindle Amid Iran’s Relentless Drone and Missile Attacks
Mar 03, 2026
Global energy prices are climbing amid Iran’s continued attacks on oil and gas infrastructure across the Gulf. On Monday, a commander in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps declared the Strait of Hormuz “closed” and said that any ships attempting to cross the narrow shipping channel would be set on fire. About a fifth of all oil consumed worldwide usually passes through the strait each day. At least three oil tankers have been struck so far. Qatar’s state-owned fossil fuel company suspended all liquified natural gas production after two of its facilities were hit. That followed a drone attack that halted operations at Saudi Arabia’s largest domestic oil refinery. Oil production has also halted in Iraqi Kurdistan and in the Tamar gas field in the Mediterranean Sea off Israel’s coast.
Saudi authorities say two Iranian drones hit the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, causing what they described as a “limited” fire and “minor damage.” The strikes came after the U.S. State Department urged Americans in 14 Mideast countries to leave.
Meanwhile, Middle East Eye reports the Trump administration is “stonewalling” requests by some Gulf states to replenish their supplies of air defense interceptor missiles — which typically cost about $4 million each — amid reports that even the Pentagon may run low on interceptors in a matter of weeks. Iran has been launching $20,000 one-way attack drones at Gulf nations hosting U.S. military bases, with about 10% of the drones slipping past defenses.
Israel Bombs Beirut for Second Consecutive Day as Soldiers Reinvade Southern Lebanon
Mar 03, 2026
Israeli soldiers have invaded parts of southern Lebanon in Israel’s largest escalation of fighting there since it signed a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah in late 2024. Israeli airstrikes have hit the capital Beirut for a second consecutive day, targeting residential neighborhoods; they also struck Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley and the southern suburbs of Beirut. The Lebanese Health Ministry says the death toll from the attacks has climbed to 51, with 154 people injured. Meanwhile, Hezbollah claimed an attack on an air base in northern Israel.
Israel Accused of Resuming “Starvation Policy” After Closing Gaza Border Crossings
Mar 03, 2026
In the Gaza Strip, the World Food Programme says a border crossing pivotal to providing food and supplies to Palestinians is reopening, after Israel closed Gaza’s borders on Saturday as it began its attacks on Iran. Despite the reopening of the Kerem Shalom crossing, human rights and aid organizations have accused Israel of reinstating a “starvation policy” in Gaza. Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, wrote, “After more than two years of unspeakable suffering and a spreading man-made famine, people still lack the most basic supplies, despite increases in aid since the ceasefire.”
In First Remarks Since Initiating War on Iran, Trump Quickly Pivots to Ballroom Plans
Mar 03, 2026
President Trump made his first public remarks Monday since unilaterally bringing the United States into a war with Iran. Trump spoke from a White House ceremony where he awarded the Medal of Honor to three Army soldiers, even as the Pentagon said the U.S. military death toll from what it’s calling Operation Epic Fury had risen to six. Trump dedicated a few moments to honor the service members who died, before launching into a lengthy monologue about his renovations to the White House, including his plans to build a new ballroom.
bq. President Donald Trump: “I picked those drapes in my first term. I always liked gold. But I think we can save a lot of money. I just saved — I just saved curtains. But — and it will be. It will be spectacular. It’ll be the most beautiful ballroom. I believe it’s because I built many a ballroom. I believe it’s going to be the most beautiful ballroom anywhere in the world.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio Says Israel’s War Plans Compelled U.S. to Join Assault on Iran
Mar 03, 2026
On Capitol Hill, Secretary of State Marco Rubio joined top generals and intelligence officials in a classified briefing for select members of Congress on Monday. After the closed-door briefing, Rubio told reporters the president had opted to join Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s planned war on Iran, rather than trying to stop the Israeli assault or even to avoid getting involved.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio: “The president made the very wise decision. We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action. We knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces. And we knew that if we didn’t preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties.”
Meanwhile, MS NOW is reporting that when FBI Director Kash Patel fired a dozen FBI personnel last week because they were part of the investigation into Donald Trump’s mishandling of classified documents, Patel targeted an elite counterespionage unit that investigates threats from foreign adversaries and specializes in Iran.
Pentagon Used Claude AI to Attack Iran Just Hours After Trump’s Ban on Anthropic
Mar 03, 2026
The U.S. military may have used artificial intelligence tools made by tech company Anthropic to aid in its deadly air attack on Iran. The Wall Street Journal and Axios reported the Trump administration’s decision came despite Anthropic’s announcement last week rejecting the use of its Claude AI model from being used for mass domestic surveillance or in fully autonomous weapons systems. The Journal reported U.S. military officials used the AI tools for intelligence purposes and to help select targets. On Friday, Trump had ordered all federal agencies to stop using Claude, denouncing Anthropic as a “Radical Left AI company” after Anthropic refused to concede to a Pentagon ultimatum for full access to its AI tools.
Gamblers Use Polymarket “Prediction Market” to Wager $529 Million on Iran Strikes
Mar 03, 2026
Image Credit: Polymarket
On Capitol Hill, calls are growing for lawmakers to regulate online betting platforms known as “prediction markets” amid allegations of insider trading that includes profiteering from U.S. military strikes. Bloomberg reports $529 million was traded on contracts tied to the timing of the strikes on the Polymarket prediction market. One Polymarket account called “Magamyman” made more than a half-million dollars betting on the U.S. attack on Iran, with the first trade placed just over an hour before the news broke publicly. This echoes similar bets on the U.S. military operation in Venezuela placed on Polymarket and other prediction markets, including Kalshi. Donald Trump Jr. sits on Polymarket’s advisory board, and his venture capital firm has invested tens of millions of dollars in the company. Both the Justice Department and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ended active investigations into Polymarket after Trump returned to the White House last year.
Texas Senate Primary Pits Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett Against State Rep. James Talarico
Mar 03, 2026
In Texas, voters are taking to the polls today for a closely watched Democratic primary between Congressmember Jasmine Crockett and state Representative James Talarico, who are vying for a highly contested Senate seat in a heated midterm election that could determine which political party will control Congress during Trump’s final two years in office. Incumbent Republican John Cornyn, who has served in the Senate for over two decades, is facing off against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the GOP primary; both are Trump supporters. Crockett is a progressive who’s staunchly denounced Trump’s policies, while her opponent, Talarico, has appealed to Republican voters and put his Christian faith at the center of his campaign.
DOJ Indicts Another 30 People over Minnesota Church Protest of Pastor Who Works for ICE
Mar 03, 2026
In Minnesota, the Justice Department has indicted another 30 people on federal crimes for participating in a peaceful protest in January at a St. Paul church where one of the pastors worked for ICE. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed over two dozen people have been arrested. The new indictments come about a month after independent journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort and prominent civil rights activist and attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong were also charged for their alleged roles in the protest at Cities Church.
U.S. Attorney in Minnesota Faces Criminal Contempt Charges for Defying Court Orders
Mar 03, 2026
A federal judge has summoned Minnesota’s U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen and several ICE officials to appear in a St. Paul court today over violations in immigration cases. The officials are facing civil and criminal contempt charges for repeatedly ignoring court orders, including refusing to return belongings, such as cellphones, cash and passports, to immigrants who are released from detention.
This comes as a separate federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to bring back a wrongfully deported immigrant to the United States. Emilio Pena Jimenez was sent to Mexico despite two court orders mandating his release from detention in Minnesota. A court filing said Jimenez may have been denied access to a lawyer before being forced to sign removal documents that were not translated into Spanish. His case is among hundreds of complaints that have been filed in Minnesota courts.
Iraqi Human Rights Activist and Feminist Yanar Mohammed Is Murdered Outside Her Baghdad Home
Mar 03, 2026
Prominent Iraqi human rights defender and feminist advocate Yanar Mohammed was killed in an armed attack on her home in Baghdad Monday. Mohammed had reportedly returned to Iraq from Canada a few days before her murder by two unidentified gunmen who opened fire as she stood outside her home. Mohammed was the co-founder and president of the Organization of Women’s Freedom in Iraq. In 2003, she founded the first women’s shelter in Iraq to protect women from trafficking and so-called honor killings, becoming the target of death threats over her activism. She was a frequent guest on Democracy Now! following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. We last spoke to her in 2022, when over two dozen people were killed in Baghdad after armed supporters of the powerful Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr clashed with government forces.
Yanar Mohammed: “And the strange thing is that those who started the demonstration that led to the clashes, to the killing and to the bombing around the city, nobody dares to challenge them or to speak any bad word against them. It’s as if I’m living the days of Saddam Hussein all over again, where everybody is scared of a single person, and nobody dares to say anything. It’s a terrible situation.”
Yanar Mohammed was killed yesterday. Click here to see all our interviews with her.
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