State of the World from NPR What the war feels like in Iran and Israel
Mar 2, 2026
Arzu Rezvani, an NPR reporter who relays firsthand voices from Iran. Scott Detrow, an NPR correspondent providing on-the-ground Middle East context. They discuss widening attacks across the region. They describe Hezbollah's return to fighting and civilian displacement. They cover life under missile barrages and the political divisions unfolding in Iran.
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War Quickly Spread Across The Region
- The conflict rapidly expanded from targeted strikes to a wide regional battlefield involving multiple states and militias.
- Scott Detrow highlights strikes on Iran, missile attacks on Gulf allies, Hezbollah firing from Lebanon, and disrupted oil and travel hubs.
Friendly Fire And Disputed Casualty Figures
- The fog of war includes friendly-fire incidents and contested casualty counts, complicating public understanding.
- Scott Detrow notes Kuwait mistakenly shot down U.S. jets and Iran's Red Crescent cited 555 Iranian deaths including schoolgirls.
Hezbollah Returns To The Fight And Lebanon Displaces
- Hezbollah's return to firing at Israel triggered evacuations and internal Lebanese tensions as government promised arrests.
- Scott Detrow reports Hezbollah fired after Khamenei's killing and Lebanese officials said Israeli counterattacks killed dozens, displacing tens of thousands.