NPR News: 03-02-2026 1AM EST

0:00The U.S. launches a military operation against Iran. Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime. On State of the World, we'll bring you the latest on the operation, as well as reaction from the region and around the globe. Listen to State of the World on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman. The U.S. military says three American service members have been killed and five others seriously wounded as part of the joint U.S. Israeli operation against Iran. They're the first reported U.S. casualties. NPR's Greg Maire has more. U.S. Central Command, which is responsible for operations in the Middle East, says that in addition to those killed and seriously wounded, other sustained minor shrapnel injuries. The brief statement did not provide details. However, the reference to shrapnel wounds suggest the casualties were caused by the missiles or drones that Iran is firing at U.S. forces in the region on land and at sea.

1:04U.S. and Israeli air strikes last June and in the current air campaign have significantly weakened Iran's military. But it still has the ability to carry out deadly attacks. In another lethal Iranian strike, a missile hit a civilian area near Tel Aviv on Sunday, killing at least nine people. Greg Maire, NPR News, Washington. British Prime Minister Kier Starmer says the UK will allow the U.S. to use some of its bases in the Gulf to attack Iran's missile capabilities. In a video message posted to social media on Sunday, Starmer says Iranian missile attacks threatened British allies, civilians, and military. We were not involved in the initial strikes on Iran, and we will not join offensive action now. But Iran is pursuing a scorched-earth strategy. So we are supporting the collective self-defense of our allies and our people in the region. Britain had previously not allowed the U.S. to use UK bases to attack Iran.

2:09Starmer also says Royal Air Force jets have intercepted Iranian strikes as part of its defensive operations in the region. Israel and the U.S. continued striking Iran Sunday for a second day. Iran has retaliated with strikes aimed at several Gulf states and Israel. The air assaults are affecting Gaza. Israel has closed all border crossings into the besieged Palestinian territory, just as Gaza was just starting its recovery. Prices of basic goods have already started to soar in Gaza since the crossing closed Saturday. Most of the population relies on aid for survival. That includes the Rafah crossing. Our emergency medical evacuees had only recently been allowed to leave. The Israeli military says no medics or you and personnel will be allowed to leave or enter Gaza, while the borders are closed. The military says the closure of Gaza's crossing will have no impact on aid, and that existence talks of food or quote expected to suffice for an extended period.

3:11But even before this full closure, the UN-Said food rations were cut in half this month, due to insufficient supplies entering the strip. An Asbaba and PR Gaza City. And you're listening to NPR News. A gunman wearing clothes with an Iranian flag design and the words property of Allah killed two people and wounded 14 others in a shooting at a Texas Barley Sunday. Police shot and killed a man who had used both the rifle and a pistol in the attack. The FBI says it's investigating as a potential act of terrorism. The shooter has been identified as a 53-year-old man from Senegal. Bay Area residents celebrated the life of the country's oldest park ranger and historian, Betty Reed-Soskin at a memorial service on Sunday, KQED Spencer Whitney reports. The sound of Betty Reed-Soskin singing ring out. As family members, co-workers and friends support into the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts in Oakland to remember the late icon, who died in December at age 104. Soskin retired from the National Park Service at 100 years old

4:17in 2022. Bay Area resident Kathleen Ridley portrayed Soskin in a stage play called Sign My Name to Freedom, which Soskin attended before she died. It was amazing and humbling and terrifying at the same time because you want to do justice to somebody that is so important for the past 100 years. Soskin was also honored for her work to preserve African American history as a park ranger, and for opening one of the first black-owned record stores in the Bay Area. For MPR News, I'm Spencer Whitney in Oakland. Nico Achevaria won the PGA Classic, played in Florida this weekend after Shane Lowry melted down on the last three holes. Lowry hit his teeth shut on the 16th into the water, leading to a double bogey, and then did the same thing on the 17th. I'm Dale Wilman, NPR News.