Israel and Iran are escalating their attacks in the Middle East.

That's where we're starting the seven from the Washington Post.

I'm Hannah Jewell.

It's Wednesday, March 4th.

Let's get you caught up with today's seven stories.

It is another violent day across the Middle East.

This morning, Israel said it was bombarding more targets in Tehran and Beirut,

following its announcement it would send ground troops deeper into Lebanese territory.

Iran also launched a fresh barrage of retaliatory strikes that hit

Persian Gulf states. Yesterday, the U.S. closed its embassies in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait,

and a suspected drone strike caused a small fire in a parking lot at the U.S. consulate in Dubai.

The State Department is working to facilitate charter flights for American citizens stranded in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan,

and Saudi Arabia. In the Oval Office yesterday, a reporter asked President Donald Trump

why there wasn't an evacuation plan for thousands of Americans in the region before

the war began. Trump replied, it happened all very quickly. Meanwhile, the death toll is mounting,

and now includes six U.S. service members killed in a drone attack in Kuwait. The Pentagon confirmed

the names of four of them yesterday.

And in the southern Iranian city of Minab yesterday,

thousands of people gathered in the streets to mourn the victims of an airstrike on an elementary school.

Iran reported that more than 150 people, including many children, were killed in that attack on Saturday.

A U.S. official said the military was looking into reports of civilian harm.

President Trump said the war may have an economic toll for Americans.

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