Wednesday

March 4, 2026

Armed conflicts and attacks

Middle Eastern crisis

2026 Iran war

Turkey and NATO forces shoot down an Iranian ballistic missile that was about to enter Turkish airspace. (Türkiye Today)

U.S. defense secretary Pete Hegseth announces that the U.S. Air Force will have uncontested air supremacy of Iranian airspace within days, and that Iran's military capabilities are "evaporating by the hour" due to constant U.S. and Israeli strikes. (The Guardian)

2025–2026 Iran–United States negotiations

Anonymous state intelligence sources tell The New York Times that the Iranian intelligence ministry have signalled to the United States Central Intelligence Agency an openness to talks on ‌bringing an end to the war. (Reuters)

Sinking of IRIS Dena

The Iranian frigate IRIS Dena is torpedoed and sunk by U.S. Navy submarine USS Charlotte in waters off Sri Lanka, killing at least 87 of the 180 people on board, while 32 others are rescued by the Sri Lanka Navy with 61 remaining missing. (Reuters)

Pro-Iranian protests during the 2026 Israeli–United States strikes on Iran

U.S. Marine veteran Brian McGinnis interrupts a U.S. Senate hearing in protest of the Iran war and is removed by the United States Capitol Police assisted by US Senator Tim Sheehy (R-MT). (Military.com)

Hezbollah–Israel conflict

2026 Hezbollah–Israel war

Israeli strikes on a hotel and residential areas in the towns of Aramoun and Saadiyat, in the south of Beirut, kill eleven people and injure four others. (Al Jazeera)

Three people are killed and six more injured during two Israeli strikes on the road to the airport in Beirut. (Al Jazeera)

Colombian conflict

A task force rescues two minors in an operation against FARC dissidents in Puerto Valencia, El Retorno, Guaviare Department, and arrests four militants and recovers M60 machine guns, assault rifles, explosives, and ammunition. (Agencia API in Spanish)

Mexican drug war

Five cartel members are killed in a shootout with government forces in Rayones, Nuevo León, Mexico. (Milenio in Spanish)

Business and economy

2026 Cuban crisis

Air France announces the suspension of flights between France and Cuba, starting from March 29 until at least June 15 due to a jet fuel shortage in Cuba. (AFP via Jamaica Observer)

2024–2026 Cuba blackouts

A major blackout across much of western Cuba, including Havana, leaves millions without power, following a fault at the Antonio Guiteras power plant in Matanzas. Officials estimate it will last at least 72 hours. (AP)

Economic impact of the 2026 Iran war

Several of the United Arab Emirates stock exchanges will resume, including Nasdaq Dubai, Dubai Financial Market, and Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, after being put on pause for two days due to the Iranian strikes. (Reuters)