News and Analysis 3/3/26

Unable (or unwilling) to restrict itself to military targets, Iran is pushing other states into supporting the war they cautioned against:

Iran’s Targeting of Airport, Ports and Hotels in Reaction to US Strikes Has Forced Gulf Nations onto Front Lines of a War They Want No Part in (The Conversation)
Threat from Iran Conflict Spreads Across Middle East in 72 Hours (Washington Post)
Iran Targets U.S. Allies, Hits American Embassy in Riyadh (Axios)
U.S. Evacuates Diplomats, Shuts Down Some Embassies as War Enters Fourth Day (NPR)
Oil Supertanker Rates Hit All-time High as Iran Pledges to Close the Strait of Hormuz (CNBC)

Unable (or unwilling) to restrict itself to military targets, the U.S. and Israel undermine their push for regime change:

U.S. military deaths are at six, and this is only the beginning:

U.S. Military Death Toll Rises to 6 (NY Times)
As Mideast Conflict Widens, US Says Attacks on Iran Will Last Weeks and Intensify (AP)
U.S. Won’t Rule Out Sending Ground Troops into Iran (Washington Post)
Trump’s Iran Endgame Unclear After Mixed Messaging on War Aims (BBC)
Scoop: Trump Calls Kurdish Leaders in Iran War Effort (Axios)
Senate Republicans Warn Trump About Expanding Iran Mission as Death Toll Rises (The Hill)

Rubio admits to being an Israeli puppet, saying ““We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action … [and] if we didn’t pre-emptively go after [Iran] them before they launched [retaliatory] attacks, we would suffer higher casualties” …

US Strikes on Iran Triggered by Israel’s Plan to Launch Attack, Rubio Says (The Guardian)

… “But if the war drags on, … “[a] large part of the American public will view it as the Israeli tail wagging the American dog”:

Netanyahu Takes a Gamble on American Support for Israel with the War Against Iran (AP)

“Much of Tehran’s arsenal of missiles may be hidden underground, making it harder to destroy”:

Eliminating Iran’s Ballistic Missiles Could Be Difficult (NY Times)

“Politicians quickly cited the attack in their campaign messaging. Some Republicans called for stopping immigration, while Democrats called for gun control”:

Austin Shooting Puts Islam at Center of Tuesday’s Primaries in Texas (NY Times)

“Vowing to abolish ICE, reset US-Israel policy and put workers first, candidates say Democrats need ‘unapologetic’ voices”:

Anti-war Candidates Pose Early Test for US Democrats After Attacks on Iran (Aljazeera)

“’I got him before he got me,’ Trump told ABC of killing Iran’s supreme leader. … No evidence has connected Iran with the two assassination attempts against Trump in 2024″: