Iran war day 4: U.S. soldiers killed identified; attacks spread across the Middle East as war with Iran intensifies

03/03/26 23:41

Attacks intensify across the Middle East into Wednesday morning

An Israeli airstrike hit a hotel outside of Beirut, Lebanon’s state-run news agency reported. The strike came in Hazmieh, about 5 kilometers southeast of downtown Beirut, and ambulances were dispatched to the scene, Lebanon’s National News Agency said.

Air sirens sounded Wednesday morning across the island kingdom of Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet.

Explosions echoed across the skies of Jerusalem. Israel’s military said early Wednesday that Iran had launched missiles toward the country for the second time in less than two hours. Israeli air defences were working to intercept them.

Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry said it has intercepted two cruise missiles in the morning over the city of Kharj.

03/03/26 22:59

Goldman CEO says markets may take a ‘couple of weeks’ to digest Iran war impact

Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon said on Wednesday that he was surprised at the “benign” reaction in financial markets over the conflict in the Middle East, and it may take a “couple of weeks” for investors to more fully digest the impacts.

“I look at the market reaction, and I’m actually surprised that the market reaction has been more benign given the magnitude of this as you might think,” Solomon said in a speech at a business summit in Sydney.

Solomon said markets tend to react in a muted way to geopolitical events unless they have a direct impact on economic growth.

“There’s a cumulative effect of everything that’s happening and a much harsher reaction. Up to this point, we haven’t seen that cumulative effect,” he said. “But it’s very hard to speculate because there is so much that is unknown at this point.”

“I think it’s gonna take a couple of weeks for markets to really digest the implications of what has happened both in the short term and medium term, and I can’t speculate as to how that would play out,” he said.

- Reuters

03/03/26 21:56

Israeli military says it hit building where clerics were to discuss choosing new supreme leader

Israeli military spokesman Brigadier-General Effie Defrin said Tuesday that Israel struck a building in Qom, Iran, where clerics were expected to meet to discuss the selection of a new supreme leader.

He said the army was still assessing whether anyone was hit.

“We’re not going to let this regime rehabilitate its command and control capabilities,” he said.

– The Associated Press

03/03/26 21:29

Displaced Palestinians anxious about impact of Iran war

In a tent camp in Gaza’s southern area of Khan Younis, Palestinians have been closely following news about the widening war and growing increasingly worried about its potential impact on their lives.

“We are fed up with wars and the horrors of wars,” Ibrahim Atta, who was displaced from Rafah, said Tuesday.

Palestinians in the camp were preparing simple meals to break their fast during the second week of the holy month of Ramadan. Haunted by memories of scarcity last year during months of Israel’s blockade, many fear that border crossings could again close.

“This will affect us economically, and affect the crossings,” said Rami Abu Arida, who also was displaced from Rafah. “Food and water, how can they enter?”

– The Associated Press

03/03/26 21:27

Child killed in attack on Kuwait

An 11-year-old girl was killed after shrapnel fell in a residential area in Kuwait City, health authorities said Wednesday.

The Kuwait army said in a statement the shrapnel fell over a house and left casualties while forces were intercepting “several hostile aerial targets” over the country.

The Health Ministry said in a separate statement that the child died of her wounds in hospital. The child’s mother and three other relatives were injured and being treated in hospital, it said.

– The Associated Press

03/03/26 21:26

House Speaker says U.S. not in “nation-building business” in Iran

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U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said after an all-member briefing at the Capitol that “no one can yet determine with any degree of certainty” how the conflict with Iran will turn out.

The Republican leader, a close ally of President Donald Trump, said it’s up to the Iranian people to “seize this moment of opportunity” for their country, and not necessarily depend on the U.S.

“We have no ability to get into the nation-building business,” he said.

“America has enough trouble of our own.”

– The Associated Press

03/03/26 21:25

U.S. State Department authorizes non-emergency personnel, families to evacuate Oman

The U.S. State Department said it had authorized non-emergency American government personnel and family members to evacuate Oman if they wish because of the war.

Oman, long an intermediary between the West and Iran, has repeatedly come under attack by Iran.

– The Associated Press

03/03/26 21:20

Several killed in Israeli strike on building in Lebanon’s Baalbek

Several people were killed in an Israeli air strike on a four-storey residential building in the eastern Lebanese city of Baalbek, the state news agency NNA reported early Wednesday local time.

Rescue teams were working to pull families from beneath the rubble, NNA said.

– Reuters

03/03/26 21:14

Israel expands war with incursion into southern Lebanon to push Hezbollah back

– Mark MacKinnon

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Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Tuesday he had ordered ground forces “to advance and hold additional dominant terrain in Lebanon” to push the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia farther away and prevent it from targeting communities in northern Israel.

The incursion into Lebanon appeared to be limited in scope, at least on Tuesday, with monitors from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon recording Israeli troops crossing the border in four locations.

Israel ordered the evacuation of some 80 Lebanese villages near the border, warning residents that their lives would be in danger if they remained in their homes.

The Israeli incursions sent a fresh wave of internally displaced people fleeing from southern Lebanon toward Beirut and the north of the country. The UN refugee agency said nearly 30,000 people had registered at its shelters in Lebanon since the start of hostilities on Monday, when Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel in retaliation for the assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei, whom many Shia Muslims considered their spiritual leader.

Read more here.

03/03/26 20:40

Pro-Iran ‘hacktivists’ could target Canadian organizations, experts warn

- Alexandra Posadzki

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Cybersecurity experts are advising Canadian organizations and operators of critical infrastructure to be on the lookout for attacks from Iranian-linked groups as U.S.-Israeli strikes on the Middle Eastern country continue.

Pro-Iran “hacktivists” could target Canada because of the federal government’s support for the U.S. and Israeli military action, the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security cautioned in a notice this week.

Iranian state-sponsored threat actors are also likely to conduct cyberespionage against political activists, journalists and human-rights advocates in Canada, according to the centre, which is part of the national cryptologic agency, the Communications Security Establishment.

“We assess that Iranian cyber threat actors will likely target opponents abroad, especially those advocating for regime change in Iran,” the agency said Monday.

Read more here.

03/03/26 20:31

Defence executives to meet at White House Friday, sources say

The Trump administration plans to meet with executives from the biggest U.S. defence contractors at the White House on Friday to discuss accelerating weapons production, as the Pentagon works to replenish supplies, five people familiar with the plan told Reuters.

Companies including Lockheed Martin and Raytheon parent RTX have been invited to attend the meeting, the people said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the discussions are private.

The meeting underscores the urgency felt in Washington to shore up weapons stocks after the Iran operation drew heavily on munitions. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 and Israel began military operations in Gaza, the United States has drawn down billions of dollars’ worth of weapons stockpiles, including artillery systems, ammunition and anti-tank missiles. The conflict in Iran has consumed longer-range missiles than those furnished to Kyiv.

Lockheed, the Pentagon and White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. RTX declined to comment. In a social-media post Monday, President Donald Trump said there was a “virtually unlimited supply” of U.S. munitions and that “wars can be fought ‘forever,’ and very successfully, using just these supplies.”

- Reuters

03/03/26 19:50

U.S. military says it has destroyed 17 ships and hit almost 2,000 targets in Iran

The United States military has destroyed 17 Iranian ships, including a submarine, and struck nearly 2,000 targets in Iran, the commander of the U.S. Central Command said Tuesday.

“Today, there is not a single Iranian ship under way in the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz or Gulf of Oman,” U.S. Central Command’s Brad Cooper said in a video posted to X.

He also said Iran has launched more than 500 ballistic missiles and 2,000 drones in retaliatory attacks so far.

-Reuters

03/03/26 19:08

Some travellers stranded in Dubai pay huge sums for private flights out

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Tens of thousands of airline passengers are stranded by the Iran war that has spread across the Gulf region, but some wealthy travellers are getting out – by paying large sums for luxury flights to Europe via airports that are safe from Iranian drone and missile attacks.

Demand for charter flights has skyrocketed, with some people paying up to €200,000 (US$232,000) as major airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, Qatar, were closed after the start of the conflict last weekend.

Travellers from Dubai, usually known as a safe and luxurious destination, are seeking to evacuate by travelling overland either to Muscat, Oman, about a four-hour drive, or to Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, more than 10 hours away. Then they board one of the few available commercial flights or take a charter flight, whose costs have soared since the start of the war.

“The demand is huge, and we can’t deliver enough aircraft to respond to the demand,” said Altay Kula, chief executive of the France-based private jet broker JET-VIP.

– The Associated Press

03/03/26 19:01

Broad sell-off hits markets as investors fear prolonged conflict

– Andrew Galbraith

Major North American stock indexes fell Tuesday along with bond prices and the price of gold as investors worried that a spiralling war in Iran may be growing into a drawn-out regional conflict with global economic implications.

While markets pared earlier losses after comments from President Donald Trump that the United States would insure oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz and escort them if necessary, analysts said that investors remained concerned about further escalation of the three-day-old conflict.

“The market is still nervous … risk sentiment will remain very tempered until we get some more concrete signs of de-escalation or negotiation,” George Davis, chief technical strategist, global markets at RBC Capital Markets, said in an e-mailed response to questions.

Read more here.

03/03/26 18:50

Saudi Arabia says it’s ready to defend itself

Saudi Arabia will take all necessary measures to defend its security and protect its territory, citizens and residents, its state news agency reported early Wednesday, citing a cabinet statement.

– Reuters

03/03/26 18:39

CIA station in Saudi Arabia struck by suspected Iranian drone, source says

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The Central Intelligence Agency’s station at the U.S. embassy in Saudi Arabia was hit Monday by a suspected Iranian drone, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters Tuesday.

There is no indication the station was the target, the source said.

The CIA declined to comment.

The station was attacked amid continuing strikes in the Middle East after Saturday’s U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran.

The embassy, located in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, is among the U.S. sites that have been hit so far in the conflict. Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry said the embassy was hit by two drones, resulting in a limited fire and some material damage.

Washington’s mission in the kingdom subsequently warned Americans to avoid the embassy until further notice “due to an attack” on the facility.

On Tuesday, it cancelled routine and emergency U.S. citizen services appointments.

– Reuters

03/03/26 18:22

Pentagon releases names of Americans killed in Iran war

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The Pentagon has released the names of four of the six service members killed in the Iran war, saying they died in a drone strike in Kuwait.

All four Army Reserve soldiers were killed Sunday when a drone hit a command centre in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait. That was just a day after the United States and Israel launched their military campaign against Iran, which launched retaliatory strikes.

All were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command in Des Moines, lowa.

Killed were Captain Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Fla.; Sergeant 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Neb.; Sergeant 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minn.; and Spc. Declan J. Coady, ‌20, of West Des ​Moines, Iowa.

Read more on this story

– The Associated Press

03/03/26 18:08

Trump says ‘someone from within’ Iranian regime might be best choice to lead

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U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that “someone from within” the Iranian regime might be the best choice to take power once the U.S.-Israel military campaign is completed – but added that “most of the people we had in mind are dead.”

The President, who four days ago had emphatically called on Iranians to “take over your government” once the bombardment ends, appeared to drift further away from the position that the war presented an opportunity to end the theocratic rule that has been in place since the country’s 1979 Islamic revolution.

Trump said many Iranian officials his administration had viewed as potential new leaders for the country had died in the U.S.-Israeli campaign that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

“Now we have another group, they may be dead also, based on reports,” he said in an Oval Office exchange with reporters. “So you have a third wave coming. Pretty soon we’re not going to know anybody.”

– The Associated Press

03/03/26 18:07

Carney says Ottawa’s position supporting U.S., Israeli strikes on Iran was taken with regret

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– Stephanie Levitz and Steven Chase

Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada’s position in support of U.S. and Israeli air strikes on Iran was taken with regret because the situation represents another failure of the international world order.

Carney said Iran’s nuclear threat persisted despite decades of United Nations Security Council resolutions, sanctions and the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and he cited their export of terror.

But the United States and Israel have acted without engaging the UN or allies, and, Carney said, that leaves the question of where things will go from here.

The remarks came at the start of Carney’s first media availability since beginning an overseas trip in India on Feb. 26. He is now in Sydney.

Carney said it appears the attacks are “inconsistent” with international law. He said it is up to the U.S. and Israel to make their legal case, as well as other legal experts.

“We support the efforts to end the Iranian nuclear program and the regime’s decade-long process of state-sponsored terrorism, but we remind that international law binds,” he said.

Read more here.

03/03/26 17:53

Health officials say 50 killed, more than 300 wounded in Israeli strikes in Lebanon

The death toll in Lebanon over the past two days has risen to 50, with 335 wounded, the country’s Health Ministry said Tuesday evening.

On Monday, Hezbollah launched missiles toward Israel for the first time in more than a year, and Israel responded by bombarding southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs with strikes. No casualties have been reported from Hezbollah’s attacks in Israel.

It is not clear how many of those killed in Lebanon were civilians, but the health ministry said earlier Tuesday that they included seven children. Officials with Hezbollah and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group were also killed.

– The Associated Press

03/03/26 17:51

Questions mount in Congress over Iran war’s costs, risks and exit plan

Tensions flared as questions mounted at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday over the Trump administration’s shifting rationale for war with Iran as lawmakers demand answers over the strategy, exit plan and costs to Americans in lives and dollars..

Trump officials arrived at the Capitol for a second day of closed-door briefings, this time with all members of the House and Senate, as the administration tried to stave off a looming war powers resolution vote intended to restrict President Donald Trump’s ability to continue the joint U.S.-Israel campaign against Iran.

“The President determined we were not going to get hit first. It’s that simple,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a testy exchange with reporters at the Capitol.

Rubio pushed back on his own suggestion a day earlier that Trump decided to strike Iran because Israel was ready to act first. Instead, he said Trump made the decision to attack this past weekend because it presented a unique opportunity with maximum chance for success.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer left the closed hearing saying he was concerned of “mission creep” in a long war.

– The Associated Press

03/03/26 17:13

Opinion: Why even Iraq war hawks should oppose this war

– Andrew Coyne

When president George H.W. Bush went to war against Iraq in 1991, he sought and won the consent of the Congress of the United States. Resolutions authorizing military force passed the House, by a margin of 250 to 183, and the Senate, 52-47.

Bush had earlier secured the passage of United Nations Security Council Resolution 678. The cause was clear and compelling: to repel Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. The coalition in support numbered 34 countries in all.

When George W. Bush went to war against Iraq in 2003, he, too, obtained the consent of Congress. He famously failed to win the approval of the Security Council but he did line up more than 40 countries in support.

The particular casus belli in 2003 was the Bush administration’s charge that the Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein, had reconstituted his previous attempts to develop nuclear arms. That later turned out to be false. But most western intelligence agencies at the time believed it. Saddam’s own generals believed it. There is evidence that he himself may have believed it.

Contrast these two previous examples of U.S. military action, as controversial as they were and are, with the war Donald Trump has just launched against Iran. No congressional approval. No Security Council resolution.

Read more here.

03/03/26 17:13

Iran attacks kill two Kuwaiti army personnel

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Two Kuwaiti army personnel who were killed Monday fell as a result of Iran’s attacks against the country, Kuwait’s government media office said Tuesday, relaying its letter to the secretary-general of the United Nations and the Security Council president.

– Reuters

03/03/26 17:09

Carney calls for de-escalation in Middle East

Prime Minister Mark Carney, speaking in Australia early Wednesday, called for de-escalation in the Middle East, saying all countries engaged in hostilities, including the United States and Israel, must respect international rules of engagement.

– Reuters

03/03/26 16:45

Iran conflict threatens Gulf tourism, undermining years of investment

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Middle East tourism, worth some US$367-billion annually to the region, is taking a hit from the widening conflict between U.S.-Israeli forces and Iran, jeopardizing the region’s carefully constructed image as a safe and high-end vacation hot spot after billions in investment in recent years.

Cancellations for vacation rentals in the United Arab Emirates more than doubled on Saturday to around 8,450 units after the initial attacks, according to data firm AirDNA. Most were for stays scheduled in March.

“There’s a big collapse in bookings to the Middle East,” Michael O’Leary, chief executive of budget carrier Ryanair, told reporters Tuesday, adding the fallout had driven a surge in demand for short-haul flights to places such as Portugal, Italy and Greece ahead of the Easter holiday period. Still, he said, the Middle East has historically rebounded from bouts of regional instability.

“I suspect it won’t go on long and therefore I suspect it won’t have any long-term trends, but I think there’s no doubt that it has undermined confidence in air travel to the Gulf.”

– Reuters

03/03/26 16:35

U.S. says it is facilitating Middle East charter flights for Americans

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The United States said Tuesday it has started facilitating charter flights from several countries in the Middle East for U.S. citizens stranded in the region, as Washington’s joint military strikes with Israel on Iran have severely disrupted global air travel.

The move came four days after the U.S.-Israeli air war on Iran began, prompting heavy criticism from U.S. lawmakers that the State Department was late in warning Americans to leave the region and that this showed poor planning and incompetence.

“The Department is facilitating charter flights from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan for American citizens, and will continue to secure additional capacity as security conditions allow,” the department said in a statement.

Dylan Johnson, assistant secretary of state for global public affairs, also said the department was “actively securing military aircraft” for Americans who wished to leave the Middle East, but did not elaborate.

Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said about 1,500 U.S. citizens have requested assistance with departure.

- Reuters

03/03/26 15:40

Syria sends thousands of troops to Lebanon border, sources say

Syria has reinforced its border with Lebanon with rocket units and thousands of troops, eight Syrian and Lebanese sources said on Tuesday. The sources included five Syrian military officers, a Syrian security official and two Lebanese security officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Syrian officers said the reinforcement operation began in February but sped up in recent days. The Syrian and Lebanese armed forces did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Syrian officers, including a senior member of the military, said the move was aimed at preventing arms and drugs smuggling as well as blocking Iran-backed Hezbollah or other militants from infiltrating Syria.

A Syrian officer told Reuters that military formations from several Syrian army divisions have expanded their presence along the border in the western Homs countryside and south of Tartus.

The reinforcements include infantry units, armoured vehicles and short-range Grad and Katyusha rocket launchers, the official said.

The Syrian security official said Damascus had no plans for military action against any neighbouring country. “But Syria is prepared to deal with any security threat to itself or its partners,” he said.

- Reuters

03/03/26 15:35

Macron orders France’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean

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French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday ordered France’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to move from the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean to help protect allied assets during the war in the Middle East.

Macron said the aircraft carrier, called Charles de Gaulle, will be escorted by its air wing and its frigates.

In a prerecorded speech on French TV, Macron added that Rafale fighter jets, air-defence systems and airborne radar systems have been deployed over the past few hours in the Middle East.

“And we will continue this effort as much as necessary,” Macron said.

He mentioned Monday’s strike on a British air force base on Cyprus, adding that Cyprus was a member of the European Union with which France has recently signed a strategic partnership.

- The Associated Press

03/03/26 15:25

Lebanon to delay May elections by two years due to conflict with Israel, officials say

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Lebanon’s leaders have agreed on a plan to postpone parliamentary elections scheduled for May and to extend parliament’s term by two years, two senior Lebanese officials said.

The sources said Lebanon’s president, prime minister and parliament speaker had agreed on the move on Tuesday. It would still require the approval of a majority of Lebanon’s 128-member legislature.

Lebanon, which last held parliamentary polls in 2022, has been pulled into the war in the Middle East, with Iran-backed Hezbollah on Tuesday launching missiles at Israel for a second consecutive day and Israel sending troops into southern Lebanon and carrying out waves of air strikes.

- Reuters

03/03/26 15:00

Anand asks Oman’s foreign minister about using its airspace to fly Canadians in the Middle East home

- Marie Woolf

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Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand has asked her Omani counterpart for use of the country’s airspace to evacuate Canadians from the Middle East, if necessary.

Speaking in Toronto Tuesday, Ms. Anand said a top priority for the federal government is helping the 100,000 Canadians who are stranded in the region.

She said she had spoken to her counterparts in several Middle Eastern and Gulf states – including Oman’s Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi – on Tuesday morning about helping Canadians. She said Oman still has an open airspace “and so I requested use of that airspace if necessary for Canadian citizens to get out.”

She said the “protection of civilians and the assistance to Canadian citizens themselves, who are being advised to shelter in place” is a key part of Canada’s foreign policy.

Canada has helped its citizens book flights and provided advice about open border crossings in previous conflicts in the Middle East, as well as offering consular support. It has also drawn up contingency plans in the past to evacuate Canadians to Cyprus and Turkey.

Read the full story.

03/03/26 14:40

A map of U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, and Tehran’s retaliatory strikes so far

Iran’s regime, vowing to avenge the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has turned its missiles on Washington’s regional allies. At least six U.S. soldiers are dead, and dozens more people have been killed, from Lebanon to the United Arab Emirates. Meanwhile, U.S. and Israeli forces have kept up attacks against Iran and its proxies.

Here’s an overview of which countries have been attacked so far. Zoom in to learn more about the military bases, nuclear installations and other areas affected.

Read more here.

03/03/26 14:35

German Chancellor says country “on the same page” as U.S. about Iran in meeting with Trump

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U.S. President Donald Trump thanked German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House on Tuesday for his support of the widening U.S.-Israel war against Iran.

Trump, speaking in the Oval Office alongside Merz, told reporters that Germany had been “helping out” by allowing United States forces to access certain bases, and drew a sharp contrast to the actions of two other European countries: Britain and Spain.

Merz said Germany and the U.S. shared a desire to get rid of Iran’s current regime and said he would discuss with Trump what happened once the military operation ended. He said he would also speak with the U.S. President about Russia’s war in Ukraine and the U.S.-European Union trade agreement.

The war in Iran is politically sensitive for Merz, who faces potential backlash at home over Germany’s support for the U.S.-Israeli operation.

Trump said Germany was letting U.S. forces land in “certain areas,” but that the U.S. was not asking Germany to provide troops.

- Reuters

03/03/26 13:39

Iranian strikes on Amazon data centres highlight industry’s vulnerability to physical disasters

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Amazon’s cloud computing division, Amazon Web Services, said late Monday that two data centres in the United Arab Emirates were “directly struck” and another facility in Bahrain was also damaged after a drone landed nearby.

“These strikes have caused structural damage, disrupted power delivery to our infrastructure, and in some cases required fire suppression activities that resulted in additional water damage,” the division said in an update on its online dashboard.

Amazon Web Services hosts many of the world’s most-used online services, providing cloud computing infrastructure to many government departments, universities and businesses.

“Amazon has generally configured its services so that the loss of a single data centre would be relatively unimportant to its operations,” said Mike Chapple, an IT professor at the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business.

“That said, the loss of multiple data centres within an availability zone could cause serious issues.”

He added, “Organizations using services from any cloud provider in the Middle East should immediately take steps to shift their computing to other regions.”

- The Associated Press

03/03/26 13:39

TSX, Dow down in afternoon trading

Canada’s main stock index dived, then pared back some of its losses in early-afternoon trading as investors worried about a widening of the war between Iran and the United States and Israel.

The April crude oil contract was up US$4.44 at US$75.67 per barrel, while the April gold contract was down US$226.30 at US$5,085.30 an ounce.

The S&P/TSX composite index was down 819.26 points at 33,722.01.

The S&P 500 dropped 1.2 per cent in afternoon trading after falling as much as 2.5 per cent in the morning. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 540 points, or 1.1 per cent, as of 1:01 p.m. ET, and the Nasdaq composite was 1.4 per cent lower.

– The Canadian Press, The Associated Press

03/03/26 13:13

Trump says U.S. will cut all trade with Spain

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U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said the United States would cut off all trade with Spain after the European country refused to let the U.S. military use its bases for missions linked to strikes on Iran.

“Spain has been terrible,” Trump told reporters during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, adding that he had told Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to “cut off all dealings” with Spain.

Trump’s comments came after the U.S. relocated 15 aircraft, including refuelling tankers, from the Rota and Morón military bases in southern Spain after the country’s Socialist leadership said it would not allow them to be used to attack Iran.

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said the offensive was not covered by Spain’s agreement with the United States nor in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.

Read more here.

– Reuters

03/03/26 12:56

Oman urges ceasefire in Iran conflict

Oman’s foreign minister reaffirmed on Tuesday his country’s call for an immediate ceasefire in the Iran conflict and a return to responsible regional diplomacy.

“There are off-ramps available, let’s use them,” Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said in a post on X.

The Gulf country had been mediating talks between Iran and the United States before the Israeli and U.S. air strikes began on Saturday, plunging the region into a major crisis.

– Reuters

03/03/26 12:48

Some travellers stranded in Dubai are paying huge sums for private charter flights

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Tens of thousands of airline passengers are stranded in the Gulf region, but some wealthy travellers are getting out by paying large sums for luxury flights to Europe via airports that are safe from Iranian drone and missile attacks.

Demand for charter flights has skyrocketed, with some people paying up to 200,000 euros (US$232,000) as major airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha were closed after the start of the conflict last weekend.

Travellers from Dubai are seeking to evacuate by journeying overland either to Muscat, Oman, about a four-hour drive away, or to Riyadh more than 10 hours away. Then they board one of the few available commercial flights or take a charter flight, whose costs have soared since the start of the war.

“The demand is huge, and we can’t deliver enough aircraft to respond to the demand,” said Altay Kula, CEO of the France-based private jet broker JET-VIP.

– The Associated Press

03/03/26 12:40

Zelensky holds talks with UAE, Qatar leaders

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed Iranian strikes with United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Ukraine has great expertise in countering drones and missiles, honed over four years facing waves of Russian attacks.

The Ukrainian leader expressed solidarity with both nations.

After the call with Al Thani, Zelensky added that the Ukrainian and Qatari teams would remain in contact to “determine how we can jointly provide greater protection to people.”

Kyiv officials have said that Ukraine would be ready to send drone specialists to the Middle East to help down Iranian drones if its partners help to broker a ceasefire in its war with Russia.

On Tuesday, Zelensky also said that Ukraine would be open to exchanging interceptor drones to repel Iranian attacks for air defence missiles from the Middle East allies.

– Reuters

03/03/26 12:24

Trump says U.S. has knocked out many Iranian naval and air targets

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U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the U.S. military had been successful against many Iranian naval and air targets, saying “just about everything has been knocked out.”

Trump, answering questions from reporters at the Oval Office, said he ordered the attack against Iran because “I had a feeling” that Iran would attack the United States as negotiations over its nuclear program stalled.

He presented no evidence to support the view. Iran had been anticipating another round of talks with U.S. envoys after negotiations in Geneva last Thursday.

Trump said Iran was still lobbing missiles but predicted Tehran will eventually lose this capability due to a sustained assault against them.

“They’ve shot a lot of them, and we’re knocking out a lot,” he said.

The President also said the war with Iran unfolded very quickly when asked why Washington did not have an evacuation plan for U.S. embassies and citizens, and he expected oil prices to drop as soon as U.S. military operations in Iran ends.

– Reuters

03/03/26 11:52

U.S. says it has hit more than 1,700 targets in Iran

The United States military has carried out strikes against more than 1,700 targets in Iran, U.S. Central Command said on Tuesday.

In a fact sheet, the command said the strikes, which started on Saturday, had targeted Iranian Navy ships, submarines and anti-ship missile sites along with command and control centers.

- Reuters

03/03/26 11:32

Canadian military personnel are ‘out of harm’s way’: McGuinty

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Defence Minister David McGuinty says Canadian military personnel in the Middle East are out of harm’s way.

McGuinty did not offer specifics Tuesday when asked how many Canadian military personnel are in the region, saying only there are “some.”

“They are all fine, out of harm’s way and it’s something that we’re watching very carefully,” McGuinty said.

The Department of National Defence has not said how many Canadian troops are stationed in each country in the Middle East. It said that the Canadian Armed Forces will “assess any potential impacts on CAF personnel in the region.”

“The safety and security of all deployed CAF personnel remain our top priority. In line with established procedures, the CAF adjusts its presence and posture in deployment locations as required,” wrote department spokesperson Nick Drescher Brown.

“All CAF personnel in the region are currently safe and accounted for. For operational security reasons, the CAF does not disclose specific force protection measures.

“The CAF has no involvement in the United States’ Operation Epic Fury, nor were any CAF members involved in its planning.”

- The Canadian Press

03/03/26 11:22

U.K. sends naval warship, helicopters to Cyprus

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Tuesday that Britain was sending helicopters with counter-drone capabilities to Cyprus, and was deploying the air defence destroyer naval vessel HMS Dragon to the region.

- Reuters

03/03/26 11:05

Dow drops as oil prices increase

A sell-off for stocks wrapped around the world and is slamming into Wall Street Tuesday, as oil prices leap even higher.

The S&P 500 dropped 2.4 per cent in morning trading and was heading toward its worst day since October. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 1,232 points, or 2.5 per cent, as of 10:30 a.m. ET, and the Nasdaq composite was 2.7 per cent lower.

It was just a day ago that U.S. stocks opened with sharp losses, only to recover all of them and end the day with slight gains. But that was with the caveat that oil prices did not jump too high, such as to more than $100 per barrel.

On Tuesday, oil prices soared again and raised more alarms. The price for a barrel of Brent crude, the international standard, leaped another 7.8 per cent to $83.84. That’s up from close to $70 less than a week ago. A barrel of benchmark U.S. crude, meanwhile, rose 8.8 per cent to $77.52.

Read more on markets here.

- The Associated Press

03/03/26 10:50

Number of Canadians in Middle East estimated to be at 97,000: Global Affairs

- Ian Bailey

Global Affairs Canada says the number of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who have reported being in the Middle East has increased over the last two days.

On Tuesday, the figure was 97,000, which is up from 85,000 on Sunday.

But a statement said the numbers are only a general estimate because registration is voluntary. It may include people who have registered but do not plan to travel or have returned to Canada.

The federal department has said it is able to send alerts and information to those who have registered.

It also said Tuesday that it is not aware of any Canadians who have been injured or killed because of the hostilities.

Here’s the new breakdown of how many Canadian citizens and permanent residents have reported in:

• Bahrain: 1,518
• Egypt: 7,268
• Iran: 2,921
• Iraq: 954
• Israel: 6,030
• Jordan: 4,477
• Kuwait: 4,200
• Lebanon: 23,304
• Oman: 819
• Palestine: 439
• Qatar: 8,374
• Saudi Arabia: 11,098
• Syria: 1,488
• United Arab Emirates: 24,594
• Yemen: 227

03/03/26 10:24

China’s foreign minister tells Israeli counterpart that attacks on Iran must end

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China opposes the military strikes launched by Israel and the U.S. against Iran and demands an immediate cessation of hostilities, Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Israeli counterpart Gideon Sa’ar on Tuesday, according to his ministry.

“Force cannot truly solve problems; instead, it often creates new ones and leaves serious long-term consequences. The real value of military power lies not on the battlefield but in preventing war,” it quoted Wang as telling Sa’ar in a call.

Wang told Sa’ar that China believes in resolving international and regional issues through dialogue and negotiation and will continue to play a constructive role in easing the situation.

Tuesday’s call follows three calls the top Chinese diplomat held on Monday with the foreign ministers of Iran, Oman and France, in which he urged Gulf countries to unite to oppose external interference.

Wang also spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Sunday.

However, Wang has not spoken to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

– Reuters

03/03/26 09:43

TSX opens lower as Middle East conflict fuels inflation fears

Canada’s main stock index opened lower on Tuesday, joining a global market slide driven by inflation fears as the Middle East conflict entered its fourth day.

At 9:32 a.m. ET, the S&P/TSX composite index was down 2.26 per cent at 33,682.61 points.

Read the latest updates on the day’s markets.

– Reuters

03/03/26 09:39

Russia’s nuclear corporation chief says Iran’s nuclear power plant faces threats

The head of Russia’s state nuclear corporation has said that the Russian-built nuclear power plant in Iran faces growing threats amid the war.

Rosatom head Alexei Likhachev said the plant in Iran’s southern port of Bushehr hasn’t come under attack yet, but explosions have taken place just a few kilometres away from the site as nearby military facilities were targeted by strikes.

Likhachev warned that a hit on the plant’s reactor or reservoirs holding spent fuel could release dangerous radioactivity and contaminate wide areas, causing a “catastrophe on a regional scale.”

Likhachev said that 639 Russian nuclear workers are in Iran. Some of them, who are now in Tehran, are leaving the country, and some of the personnel in Bushehr will be evacuated later.

– The Associated Press

03/03/26 09:29

Airline stocks slide as passengers scramble to leave Middle East

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Airline stocks in Asia and Europe extended losses on Tuesday, with carriers monitoring fuel price spikes and passengers scrambling to find flights or alternative routes out of the Middle East.

Major Gulf hubs including Dubai remained closed for a fourth day, leaving tens of thousands of passengers stranded.

Aviation data firm Cirium said more than 19,000 flights to the Middle East have been cancelled since Saturday.

Tourism Economics said the conflict could lead to an 11-per-cent to 27-per-cent decline in arrivals to the Middle East in 2026.

Shares of Japan Airlines closed down 6.4 per cent, while Korean Air Lines dropped 10.3 per cent, its biggest drop since March 2020. Cathay Pacific shares closed down about 3 per cent.

Shares of major Chinese carriers Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines all closed down between 2 per cent and 4 per cent in Hong Kong and Shanghai.

In Europe, shares of Wizz Air, British Airways owner IAG, Lufthansa and Air France KLM were down around 5 per cent to 7 per cent.

Shares of U.S. carriers United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and Southwest Airlines were down between 3 per cent and 4 per cent in premarket trading.

– Reuters

03/03/26 09:25

Greek shipping minister warns of ‘alarming’ situation in Strait of Hormuz

Greece’s shipping minister on Tuesday called for the protection of global shipping and seafarers, amid an “alarming” situation that has left dozens of ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz and the wider area.

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz was closed for a fourth day on Tuesday. An Iranian Revolutionary Guard senior official said on Monday Iran would fire on any ship trying to pass through, Iranian media reported.

Greece is a dominant force in global shipping, controlling one of the world’s largest merchant fleets.

“This is alarming and worrying, and I wish that global shipping was left out of war conflicts,” shipping minister Vassilis Kikilias told Reuters.

He said that at least 10 Greek-flagged ships were in the Gulf and another five outside, their crews including dozens of Greek seafarers. More than 325 ships of Greek interests are in the wider area.

– Reuters

03/03/26 09:18

Bunkering at UAE’s Fujairah oil hub slows after fire, demand at other hubs set to rise

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Ship refuelling at Fujairah, a major bunkering hub in the United Arab Emirates, has slowed after a fire broke out at the port on Tuesday, market sources told Reuters, while demand at other refuelling hubs including Singapore is set to rise.

Some bunker deliveries and loadings were on hold for now as suppliers, traders and shippers await more clarity on the situation, while others said that bunkering is still possible.

Oil storage firms VTTI and Vopak said in statements on Tuesday that they have temporarily suspended operations at the Fujairah terminal after a fire.

The U.S.-Iran conflict had disrupted fuel shipments in the region, spurring a jump in prices at Fujairah on Monday.

Bunkering continues at the port, but sales were largely stalled after marine fuel offers jumped on Monday on concerns of prolonged supply disruption, Dubai-based market sources said.

Fujairah sits on the east coast of the UAE near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz.

- Reuters

03/03/26 08:42

Israel and U.S. widen scope of strikes in Middle East

03/03/26 08:15

Governments scramble to repatriate their citizens

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Governments worldwide are scrambling to repatriate their citizens.

The U.S. State Department has evacuated non-emergency personnel and families in six nations, adding the United Arab Emirates to its list Tuesday.

In Italy, the government has assisted with flights to Milan and Rome in the wake of mounting criticism against Defence Minister Guido Crosetto. The minister sparked a political controversy at home after being stuck in Dubai with his family during the initial phase of the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran.

An estimated 30,000 German tourists remained on cruise ships, in hotels or at closed airports in the Middle East, and the first plane from Dubai to Frankfurt, Germany, was expected to land Tuesday afternoon.

The German government is also seeking to charter planes at taxpayer expense to get vulnerable people — including ill travelers, children and pregnant people — back home.

France is also trying to organize the return of thousands of its people, the country’s foreign affairs minister said Tuesday. An estimated 200,000 French people live in the region affected by the conflict, and authorities believe roughly 25,000 French citizens are currently visiting the area.

Meanwhile, Global Affairs Canada is increasing staff to help Canadians caught up in the Middle East conflict but also urging them to fend for themselves.

“If you are in an affected country, prepare contingency plans that don’t rely on the Government of Canada’s assistance for departure,” Global Affairs said on Monday.

- The Associated Press, with files from Ian Bailey

03/03/26 08:01

Trump says U.S. war supplies mean it can fight ‘forever’

U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. military has enough stockpiled weapons to fight wars “forever,” as the Republican president and his administration continued their push to justify a broad, open-ended war on Iran with shifting aims and timeline.

In a social media post overnight, Trump said there was a “virtually unlimited supply” of U.S. munitions and that “wars can be fought “forever,” and very successfully, using just these supplies.”

“The United States is stocked, and ready to WIN, BIG!!!” he wrote.

Trump earlier on Monday offered no details on how long the campaign against Tehran would last, but said it had been projected to last four to five weeks.

“We’re already substantially ahead of our time projections. But whatever the time is, it’s OK. Whatever it takes,” he said in his first public event since the conflict began, speaking briefly about the war ahead of a Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House.

Trump has not given a televised address to the nation, as is customary at times of military action.

- Reuters

03/03/26 07:40

Gold falls 4% as strong dollar and higher rate bets undercut safe-haven demand

Spot gold prices fell on Tuesday, sliding more than 4 per cent at one point, as some investors favoured the dollar rather than gold as a safe-haven from the impact of the U.S.-Israeli air war on Iran, and as traders trimmed rate-cut bets given inflation concerns.

Spot gold was down 3.3 per cent at $5,150.89 an ounce by 11:56 a.m. GMT (6:56 a.m. ET), after falling to its lowest since Feb. 20 earlier. U.S. gold futures for April delivery lost 2.8 per cent to $5,161.50. “The dollar is absolutely roaring away, as are U.S. Treasuries, and that’s providing a strong headwind to gold and particularly silver,” said independent analyst Ross Norman.

Spot silver fell 9.1 per cent to $81.31 an ounce after climbing to a more than four-week high on Monday.

The U.S. dollar rose 0.9 per cent to a more than one-month high, while U.S. Treasury yields shot higher.

A stronger U.S. currency typically makes dollar-denominated gold more expensive for buyers using other currencies, and higher yields raise the opportunity cost of holding the non-yielding metal.

- Reuters

03/03/26 07:25

Drone hits Oman’s largest port, no casualties

A drone struck Oman’s largest port of Salalah on Tuesday, authorities said.

The government media office also said two drones were shot down in the southwestern province of Dhofar.

The attacks left no casualties or damage in both Salalah and Dhofar, it said.

- The Associated Press

03/03/26 07:21

Thousands of Syrians leave Lebanon to flee Israeli strikes

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Thousands of Syrians have crossed from Lebanon into Syria to flee Israeli strikes over the past two days as Israel and the Iran-allied Lebanese militant group Hezbollah escalated their attacks against each other.

The U.N. refugee agency UNHCR said in a statement that around 3,900 to 4,400 people would typically cross from Lebanon into Syria during Ramadan. On Monday, after Hezbollah launched missiles toward Israel and Israel retaliated with bombarding Lebanon, a total of 10,629 people crossed, the vast majority of them Syrian.

Azzam Sweiri, a Syrian farm worker who had been working in southern Lebanon, crossed back into Syria Tuesday.

“The streets were packed with cars and people” as he fled, he said. “It took us 10 or 12 hours just to make it 30 or 40 kilometres.”

- The Associated Press

03/03/26 06:47

Wall Street futures fall as Middle East conflict stokes inflation worries

The Nasdaq led losses among U.S. stock index futures with a 2.3-per-cent drop on Tuesday as investors assessed the fallout of U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on inflation and global trade.

Tehran’s threat to attack any vessel attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz, combined with production halts by several Middle Eastern oil and gas producers, has driven global shipping rates higher and pushed up crude and natural gas prices.

Industries such as airlines and travel that are exposed to crude prices were knocked back for a second day. Delta and Royal Caribbean fell about 4 per cent each.

“Much will depend on the price of oil,” said a group of strategists led by Deutsche Bank’s Jim Reid. “Any sustained spike would undoubtedly trigger a more meaningful risk-off move.”

Technology stocks such as Nvidia and Microsoft were down 3.1 per cent and 1.8 per cent, respectively, after gaining in the previous session. Nasdaq-listed memory names such as Sandisk slumped 8.4 per cent and Western Digital lost 5.6 per cent, also cooling off from a strong rally in February.

Investors were worried that higher oil prices could stoke inflation across the broader economy and further complicate policy decisions for central bank officials already contending with price increases driven by tariffs.

- Reuters

03/03/26 06:42

Ryanair prioritizing repatriating its customers in Jordan, CEO says

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Ryanair’s priority is repatriating its customers from Jordan and it does not have much spare capacity to help with other repatriations, but will try to help where possible, Chief Executive Michael O’Leary said on Tuesday.

“Certainly wherever we can help with repatriations, we would try to be helpful,” he told a news conference in Warsaw. “But our focus is our customers who are currently stranded in Jordan.”

- Reuters

03/03/26 06:37

Italy arranges flights to bring home stranded citizens

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The Italian government said Tuesday it is working “non-stop” to assist Italian citizens stranded in the Middle East.

Italy scheduled two flights including one from Muscat, Oman, to Rome’s Fiumicino airport Tuesday to carry around 300 people and another from Abu Dhabi to Milan to carry about 200 people, mostly young students.

Another two flights are set to depart from Abu Dhabi to Milan and Rome in the early afternoon Tuesday, while an additional flight from Muscat has been scheduled for Wednesday.

Italy’s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto sparked a political controversy at home after being stranded in Dubai with his family during the initial phase of the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran, returning to Rome on Sunday on a military aircraft.

The left-wing opposition called for Crosetto’s resignation, stressing the minister travelled alone to an area of crisis without being informed of the deteriorating situation. Premier Giorgia Meloni defended the minister on Monday, saying he never stopped doing his job.

- The Associated Press

03/03/26 06:32

U.K. yet to decide on sending warship to defend Cyprus base

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Britain has yet to decide whether it will send a warship to defend its Royal Air Force Akrotiri base in Cyprus, a source close to the matter said on Tuesday after the Times newspaper reported ministers had discussed such a deployment.

An Iranian-made drone strike hit a runway at the Akrotiri base in the early hours of Monday. Britain has said UK assets were targeted by Iran.

The Times report, citing three sources, said defence minister John Healey had a meeting on Tuesday with senior military figures, in which they discussed sending HMS Duncan to the region.

The Ministry of Defence did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report.

- Reuters

03/03/26 06:26

Ukraine, UAE agreed to work together, Zelensky says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday that he has offered to help the United Arab Emirates protect itself against Iranian aerial attacks.

Ukraine has built significant expertise in countering Iranian-designed Shahed drones that Russia has launched almost daily at Ukrainian targets since Moscow’s invasion more than four years ago.

Zelensky said on X that he spoke by phone with the United Arab Emirates president, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and “discussed how we can help” protect lives in the UAE.

- The Associated Press

03/03/26 06:14

Escalating energy prices send stock prices down in Europe

- Eric Reguly

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Oil prices rose again Tuesday morning, on the fourth day of U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and ever-widening Iranian strikes in the Persian Gulf region. But gas prices far outpaced them.

In London trading, Brent crude was up 5.6 per cent, to US$82 a barrel, extending the two-day rise to more than 10 per cent and lifting the 12-month gain to almost 15 per cent. Gas prices blew through the roof. The European price, known as TTF, the benchmark for gas traded at the Netherlands hub, was up some 30 per cent in the morning after gaining almost 50 per cent the day before.

The escalating energy prices – with no sign the war will end soon – sent stock prices down in Europe again on Tuesday, though at a quicker pace than the previous day. Investors seem have have lost confidence that the conflict will be resolved quickly.

In London, the FTSE 100 index was down by 2.5 per cent in mid-morning trading in spite of its heavy weighting in oil and gas shares, which climbed.

Germany’s DAX was down 3.3 per cent. The DAX is stuffed with energy-intensive industrial companies, among them Mercedes, Porsche and Siemens, whose profit margins could get squeezed by rising oil and gas costs.

European government bond prices also sold off, boosting their yields. In Germany, benchmark two-year Bund yield’s were 0.1 percentage points higher, at 2.16 per cent, adding to a 0.08 percentage point rise on Monday.

The rising energy prices are a direct result of the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow channel – 33 kms across at its narrowest point – that separates the Persian Gulf from the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean. Normally, one-fifth or more of the world’s oil and gas, in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG), passes through the strait, then on to Asian and European markets.

Read more about why investors fear a drawn-out Iran war.

03/03/26 05:58

Hezbollah official says group will fight ‘open war’ with Israel

A senior Hezbollah official says that after more than a year of abiding by the ceasefire as Israel’s strikes continued on Lebanon, the group’s patience has ended, leaving it with no option “but to return to resistance” and fight an open war with Israel.

Mohamoud Komati said Tuesday that Hezbollah exercised patience since a ceasefire ended the Israel-Hezbollah war in November 2024, hoping the government’s diplomatic efforts would yield positive results in ending Israeli strikes.

In the comments released by Hezbollah’s media office, Komati blasted the Lebanese government for calling Hezbollah’s actions illegal and demanded it hand over its weapons, saying it did not act to stop Israel’s airstrikes that continued on almost daily basis for nearly 15 months.

“The Zionist enemy wanted an open war, which it has not stopped since the ceasefire agreement,” Komati said. “So let it be an open war.”

- The Associated Press

03/03/26 05:46

UN urges investigation into ‘horrific’ attack on Iran school

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The U.N. human rights office urged the “forces” behind an attack on a girls’ school in Iran to investigate and share insights into the “horrific” incident, without naming them.

“The High Commissioner (Volker Turk) calls for a prompt, impartial and thorough investigation into the circumstances of the attack. The onus is on the forces that carried out the attack to investigate it,” U.N. human rights office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani told a Geneva press briefing, describing the incident as “horrific”.

Iranian state media reported 165 people were killed on the first day of the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran.

On Tuesday, thousands of people in the southern city of Minab held a mass funeral ceremony for those killed.

U.S. Central Command spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins said he was aware of reports that a girls’ school was struck and officials were looking into them.

An Israeli military spokesperson said Sunday he was not aware of any Israeli or U.S. strikes in the area.

- Reuters and The Associated Press

03/03/26 05:14

At least 30,000 displaced people in shelters in Lebanon

At least 30,000 displaced people have sought protection in shelters in Lebanon since hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah began on Monday, the United Nations refugee agency said on Tuesday.

“Conservative estimates suggest that nearly 30,000 people were hosted and registered at collective shelters,” said UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch.

“Many more slept in their cars on the side of roads or were still stuck in traffic jams on the roads,” he added.

- Reuters

03/03/26 04:49

Airfares soar as Gulf airport closures ripple across world

03/03/26 04:28

France to dispatch warship to Cyprus

Cypriot officials say France will dispatch a warship to Cyprus to help bolster the country’s anti-drone defenses after a Rashed drone struck a British military base on the east Mediterranean island.

France also will send additional land-based, anti-drone and anti-missile systems to the country, officials confirmed Tuesday.

Germany also responded positively to a request to send a warship, according to three officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not permitted to provide details publicly.

The equipment will arrive in Cyprus as soon as possible, they said

The French military did not respond immediately to a request for information from The Associated Press.

The drone struck the British base, RAF Akrotiri, shortly after midnight Monday and caused only minor material damage to an aircraft hangar. Another two drones were intercepted by British warplanes around midday Monday after they were scrambled from the air base, officials said.

Greece has sent four F-16 fighter jets to Cyprus while two of its state-of-the-art frigates are on their way.

- The Associated Press

03/03/26 04:15

China urges Iran to reopen Strait of Hormuz

-James Griffiths

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Beijing on Tuesday urged Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, after senior figures within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard vowed to attack any ships passing through the vital shipping lane.

Some 20 per cent of the world’s oil supply, as well as large amounts of liquefied natural gas, passes through the Strait from the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea. Speaking to reporters in the Chinese capital, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said “energy security is crucial to the world economy, and all parties have the responsibility to ensure a stable and unimpeded energy supply.”

“China urges all parties to immediately cease military actions, prevent the escalation of tensions, safeguard the safety of shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, and avoid further impacts on the global economy,” Ms. Mao said. “All parties should ensure a stable and unimpeded energy supply. China will take necessary measures to safeguard its own energy security.”

Prior to this weekend’s war, China was a major purchaser of heavily sanctioned Iranian oil, and while the country has large stockpiles and has preparing for such disruptions, the loss of this supply is likely to have knock-on effects for oil demand, sending already spiking prices ever higher.

“Beijing has spent years diversifying suppliers and building strategic reserves for moments like this and can absorb a temporary loss of Iranian crude without triggering physical shortages at home,” said Craig Singleton, senior China fellow at the Washington D.C.-based think tank Foundation for Defense of Democracies. But he noted Beijing will be wary of a “systemic risk to Gulf shipping lanes” that could weigh on the export-led Chinese economy, which is still recovering from the shock of U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war.

China was once positioning itself to be a major new player in the Middle East, but the chaos unleashed by the October 7 attacks and now the war in Iran shows how “China has once again been relegated to the superpower sidelines,” Mr. Singleton said in an email.

“Beijing’s response has been predictably restrained, underscoring China’s limited ability to shape events once hard power is in motion. Beijing can signal unease; however, it cannot meaningfully deter or influence U.S.-Israeli military action. For China, this episode is further confirmation that soft power buys access, but hard power decides outcomes,” he added.

“China has influence, capital, and access, but the latest events keep underscoring a tougher reality for Beijing: access does not equal control, and presence does not guarantee protection.”

03/03/26 03:31

Israel says Iran’s firepower significantly limited

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Israel’s army said Tuesday that Iran’s firepower has been weakened.

Army spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani said Israeli and U.S. attacks on Iran have “limited significantly” Iran’s ability to fire.

Shoshani said Israel has been going after Iran’s missile launchers and have taken out dozens of them.

Iran has fired hundreds of missiles but it’s hard to tally the total amount with Iran also striking other countries, he said.

The pace of missiles being launched at Israel has slowed since the first two days of the war.

Shoshani said the slowdown also could be partly attributed to Iran understanding the war could go on for longer than they had thought and they are trying to pace themselves.

- The Associated Press

03/03/26 03:02

Oil rises as expanding war heightens supply risks

Brent rose more than $3 on Tuesday for a third day of gains as the widening U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran and threats to shipping via the Strait of Hormuz heightened fears of supply disruptions from the key Middle East producing region.

Brent crude futures were at $80.89 a barrel, up $3.15, or 4.1%, by 0745 GMT. On Monday, the contract surged to as high as $82.37, its highest since January 2025, though it pared those gains to settle 6.7% higher.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude climbed $2.55, or 3.6%, to $73.78 a barrel. In the previous session, the contract initially climbed to its highest since June 2025 before sliding back to settle up 6.3%.

“With no quick de-escalation in sight, the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed and Iran showing a willingness to target energy infrastructure in the region, upside risks remain and they grow the longer the conflict drags on,” Tony Sycamore, IG market analyst, said in a note.

- Reuters

03/03/26 02:17

Israeli soldiers operating in southern Lebanon, military says

The Israeli military said soldiers are “operating in southern Lebanon” as it continues strikes against Hezbollah.

In a statement, it said the troops are positioned at several points near the border in what it described as a “forward defense posture” as it battles Hezbollah militants.

It said the deployment is part of a broader effort to increase security for residents in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon. It has also beefed up troops and air defenses in the area.

The army said there are no plans to evacuate Israeli residents of border areas.

The conflict, which started with Israeli and U.S. airstrikes on Iran on Saturday, has spread to Lebanon, where the Iranian-supported militant group Hezbollah fired missiles at Israel on Monday, prompting Israel to retaliate.

At least 52 people have been killed and 154 wounded so far, according to Lebanese authorities.

Israel hit Beirut with more airstrikes early Tuesday morning, saying it was targeting “Hezbollah command centers and weapons storage facilities.”

Hezbollah also said it launched drones targeting an Israeli air base. The Israeli military said it downed two drones.

An Iranian-linked militant in Iraq has also claimed strikes on U.S. military facilities there.

- The Associated Press

03/03/26 02:13

France says it will work with China on de-esclatating Iran war

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot held a call on Monday with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to discuss the Iran war and both agreed to work on de-escalation, Barrot’s office said in a statement.

Both ministers committed to seeking a political solution that would guarantee collective security and take into account the aspirations of the Iranian people, the statement said.

Barrot “reiterated the Iranian regime’s responsibility for the ongoing escalation, after it unjustifiably attacked several countries in the region,” the statement said.

He also criticized the Iranian regime for refusing to respect the resolutions from the United Nations’ Security Council on the nuclear programmes, ballistic activities, support to non-state armed groups and rejecting good-faith multilateral negotiations.

The French minister reiterated that France was not involved in the actions by the United States and Israel and had no prior knowledge of them. Countries “must give precedence to international institutions to solve disputes and, where needed, the use of force,” he added.

The two ministers agreed to keep dialogue open on the issue.

- Reuters

03/03/26 02:04

India reduces gas supply to industries after Qatar outage

Indian companies on Tuesday reduced natural gas supplies to industries in anticipation of tighter supply from the Middle East after top producer Qatar halted production, four industry sources with knowledge of the matter said.

The sources declined to be named because they were not authorised to speak to the media.

Qatar halted its liquefied natural gas production on Monday, as Iran continued to strike Gulf countries in retaliation for Israeli and U.S. strikes against it. The attacks have also halted oil and gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, driving up global energy prices and shipping costs.

India, the world’s fourth largest buyer of LNG, relies heavily on the Middle East for its imports.

- Reuters

03/03/26 01:47

U.S. closes embassies in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia

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The U.S. Embassy in Kuwait is shutting down as the Middle East descends into a widening war.

The embassy said in a social media post Tuesday that it is closing “until further notice” due to the war.

Earlier Tuesday, Iran struck the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia’s capital prompting the mission to close Tuesday.

The attack from two drones on the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh caused a “limited fire” and minor damage, according to Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry, and the embassy urged Americans to avoid the compound. It followed an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait on Monday and the friendly fire downing of three U.S. fighter jets.

The U.S. State Department urged U.S. citizens to leave more than a dozen Middle Eastern countries due to safety risks, as have many other countries, though with much of the airspace closed many remain stranded.

The U.S. military has confirmed six deaths of American service members. All six were Army soldiers in a logistics unit in Kuwait, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

- Reuters and The Associated Press

03/03/26 01:16

Germany’s Merz heads to Washington against backdrop of Iran strikes

U.S. President Donald Trump plays host to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House on Tuesday for talks on sensitive topics ranging from U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran to Trump’s new tariff threats.

Merz, fresh off the heels of a visit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, will work to maintain the positive relationship he has forged with Trump over the past year. But that will require delicate diplomacy given European concerns over the legality of the Iran strikes under international law, and deep worries over Trump’s threat to pile fresh tariffs on global goods.

He will be the first European leader to visit Washington in the aftermath of the Iran attacks - which have blocked one of the world’s key oil shipping lanes and thrown global air transport into chaos - and the Supreme Court’s ruling on February 20 that Trump’s emergency tariffs are illegal.

Initially expected to focus on trade, the discussions will likely be dominated by the U.S.-Israeli attack over the weekend.

On Sunday, Merz expressed no criticism of the U.S. airstrikes but stopped short of endorsing an operation.

“We recognize the dilemma,” he said, explaining that repeated attempts over past decades had not put Iran off trying to acquire nuclear weapons or oppressing its own people. “So we’re not going to be lecturing our partners on their military strikes against Iran.”

- Reuters

03/03/26 00:18

Canada’s defence minister defends Ottawa’s backing of air strikes

-Steven Chase

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Iran’s deceased leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was “a force for evil,” Defence Minister David McGuinty said Tuesday as he defended the Liberal government’s decision to back U.S. and Israeli air strikes on Iran.

Mr. Khamenei, 86, was killed in U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran Saturday.

Prime Minister Carney’s government issued a strong statement in support of the Saturday attacks only hours after air strikes began, saying Tehran is the main source of instability in the Middle East and must never be allowed to possess nuclear weapons.

Speaking to reporters in Sydney during Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to Australia, Mr. McGuinty said Canada’s position toward Iran has been toughening for years.

In 2012, former prime minister Stephen Harper cut off formal diplomatic ties with Tehran and shuttered its embassy there. Justin Trudeau became a vocal and persistent critic of Iran’s 2020 shooting down of a jet filled with Canadian citizens and residents and its failure to account for its actions.

“The government of Canada has been very clear about its position on Iran for some time,” Mr. McGuinty said, noting in 2024 Ottawa designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist entity. He said Canada has been “following very carefully the kinds of human rights abuses, the terror inflicted upon the population in Iran, the suffering of women, in particular in Iran.”

Mr. McGuinty said Canada is well aware of Tehran’s support for terror groups. “We know where funding and financing has been coming from. We know the extent of the involvement of the Iranian regime in, for example, organized criminal syndicates.”

At the same time Mr. McGuinty was careful to distance Canada from the military operations in the Middle East, saying Canada’s armed forces “were not involved in the preparation, nor the execution of that particular decision by the Israelis and the Americans to attack.”

Read the full story here.

03/02/26 23:28

Israeli air strikes hit Beirut after Hezbollah targets air base

Israeli airstrikes hit the Lebanese capital Tuesday morning.

The Israeli military said it was targeting “Hezbollah command centers and weapons storage facilities in Beirut.”

Hezbollah also said it launched drones targeting an Israeli air base.

- The Associated Press

03/02/26 22:53

Netanyahu claims Iran was rebuilding to make ‘atomic bomb program immune’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is defending the decision to go to war with Iran alongside the United States.

Netanyahu, speaking on Fox News Channel’s Hannity, contended that Iran was rebuilding “new sites, new places” that would make “their ballistic missile program and their atomic bomb program immune within months.”

He did not offer evidence to support his claim.

Satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press showed limited activity at two nuclear sites in Iran before the war, with analysts saying it was likely Tehran was trying to assess damage from American strikes in June and possibly salvage what remained there.

“We had to take the action now and we did,” Netanyahu said. “Otherwise the Iranian mass murder regime would have immunity from future action.”

Echoing a Trump administration point, he repeated that the war would create the conditions for the Iranian people to form a democratic government.

However, there’s been no sign of any mass uprising against Iran’s theocracy since the war started.

- The Associated Press

03/02/26 21:55

Satellite imagery shows apparent attack on Iranian nuclear site: report

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Commercial satellite imagery has captured what appear to be the first known strikes on an Iranian nuclear site since the start of the U.S.-Israeli air operation, an independent policy institute said Monday.

The Institute for Science and International Security said imagery produced by Colorado-based Vantor showed two strikes on access points to the underground uranium enrichment plant at Natanz, which was hit by the United States in June, 2025.

David Albright, a former UN nuclear inspector and founder of the institute, said the strikes appeared to have occurred between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning local time, based on the satellite imagery his group reviewed.

He could not identify which military hit the Natanz complex, one of the main facilities of Iran’s nuclear program.

Albright’s findings appeared to corroborate an earlier statement by Reza Najafi, Iran’s envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency, that Natanz was hit Sunday.

– Reuters

03/02/26 21:39

Gold and oil on the rise again

Gold prices rose for a fifth consecutive session early Tuesday, as investors sought safe havens amid the escalating U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict.

Spot gold was up 1 per cent at US$5,377.21 an ounce, as of 1:22 a.m. GMT (8:22 p.m. ET Monday). In the previous session, bullion climbed to its highest point in more than four weeks.

The U.S. dollar hovered close to a more than five-week high reached on Monday, supported by firm demand and cautious market sentiment.

Spot silver rose 1.4 per cent to US$90.67 an ounce on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, oil prices rose for a third day as the widening conflict and threats to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz heightened fears of supply disruptions from the key Middle East producing region.

Brent crude futures were at US$78.83 a barrel, up US$1.10, or 1.4 per cent, by 1:07 a.m. GMT (8:07 p.m. ET).U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude jumped 74 US cents, or 1 per cent, to US$71.97 a barrel.

- Reuters

03/02/26 20:33

Canadians may pay more for gas, but oil glut could curb war-driven price hikes

- Mariya Postelnyak

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Canadians could pay as much as six cents more a litre at the gas pumps this week after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, though an oversupply of oil will likely provide a buffer from the worst price shocks, analysts say.

While Canada is a net exporter of energy, growing tensions across the Middle East are hitting commodity markets and hiking the price of heavy crude, the raw material refined to create gasoline and diesel.

The price of regular gas across Canadian provinces hovered at around $1.43 on average Monday, according to data from En-Pro, up roughly four cents from the previous week.

Still, “with respect to what we paid a year ago,” the prices are “fairly low,” said Normand Mousseau, scientific director of the Trottier Energy Institute at Polytechnique Montréal.

But that’s the view for the short term. If the Middle East conflict continues well into the spring, experts say, consumers should expect higher prices for other goods and services, and gas as well.

Read the full story here.

03/02/26 19:50

Gulf states say they will retaliate if Iran continues attacks

– Melanie Swan

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The Gulf Cooperation Council states have warned that they will take “all necessary measures” to counter Iranian aggression as drone and missile attacks continue to hit the tiny countries, increasing the risk of an all-out regional war in the Persian Gulf.

On Monday, a joint statement from the body, which represents Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman, said they will do whatever they must to defend their security and territories, reserving the right to respond to what they described as “heinous” and “treacherous Iranian attacks.”

The countries, located across the narrow Persian Gulf waters from Iran, had previously said they would not allow their territories to be used for attacks against Iran.

Home to millions of expatriates from all over the world, they value their reputations as havens of stability in a turbulent region and have so far held back from attacking Iran. But as the U.S.-Iran-Israel war continues, and Iran strikes at critical infrastructure and energy-export facilities in the Gulf states, they risk entering the conflict.

Read the full story here.

03/02/26 19:32

How the Iran war could affect your wallet

From shuttered airports to rising oil prices and volatile stock markets, the global economy is feeling ripple effects after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran, and Iran retaliated on targets across the Middle East.

Here are the main ways the recent military conflict – and the risk of a prolonged standoff – could affect Canadian consumers and investors.

Read the full story about how the Iran war could affect your wallet.

03/02/26 19:24

Canadian stuck in Dubai calls on Ottawa to do more

– Jill Mahoney

Airspace closings upended Omer Khan’s plans to fly home from Dubai to Toronto. He hasn’t seen his wife and three young children since mid-January.

Khan arrived at the Dubai airport for his flight early Sunday, but was instead greeted by chaos as the facility was being evacuated. He hasn’t been able to reach Emirates since to rebook his flight.

A Canadian citizen who grew up in Saudi Arabia, Khan said he registered with Global Affairs Canada and was “a little bit surprised” the federal government is not helping Canadians leave the region. He called on Ottawa to prepare evacuation plans if commercial flights do not resume soon.

“I do hope that if it comes to that, they’re able to assist me more,” said Khan, a 40-year-old banker. “They definitely should have a contingency plan if things escalate.”

Read more about flight cancellations and airspace closings.

03/02/26 17:50

Analysis: Trump’s promises to avoid foreign wars meet the reality of office

– David Shribman

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So much for that Nobel Peace Prize.

Unless, of course, the following argument – being mobilized by the Trump administration – starts gaining traction: that it is Donald Trump’s two military operations against Iran that will secure the regional and global peace for which the world has yearned.

The President, who has never done any military service, has taken pains to portray himself as something of a modern-day peacenik. He opposed George W. Bush’s war in Iraq, portrayed Barack Obama as trigger-happy in his willingness to launch hostilities against Libya, and ran for president three times as an anti-war candidate.

He abandoned the Mahatma Gandhi persona over the weekend and by Monday was speaking in the argot of General George S. Patton.

Speaking at the White House, the President said American air strikes were “destroying Iran’s missile capability, and we’re doing that hourly.” He said U.S. forces were “annihilating their navy,” adding that the goal was to assure that Iran’s “sick and sinister regime” wouldn’t be able to obtain nuclear weapons or spread terror in the Middle East.

Read the full analysis of Trump’s actions in Iran here.

03/02/26 15:17

Are you a Canadian traveller affected by what’s happening in the Middle East?

Are you a tourist or business traveller whose plans have been affected by the conflict in the Middle East? Have you been dealing with travel delays or suspended flights? Share your story below for a future Globe story, or e-mail audience@globeandmail.com. If you’d like to submit a photo, use this link.