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Issued at: Mon, 09 Mar 2026 04:51:51 +0000



News: Daily Breeze
https://www.dailybreeze.com Mon, 09 Mar 2026 04:51:51 +0000 en-US hourly 30 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.1

News: Daily Breeze
https://www.dailybreeze.com 32 32 136041897

Councilwoman Nithya Raman formally launches her campaign for LA mayor
https://www.dailybreeze.com/2026/03/08/councilwoman-nithya-raman-formally-launches-her-campaign-for-la-mayor/ Mon, 09 Mar 2026 02:48:06 +0000 https://www.dailybreeze.com/?p=5341056&preview=true&preview_id=5341056

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nithya Raman on Sunday formally launched her campaign for mayor, weeks after her surprise decision to enter the race against incumbent and former political ally Karen Bass.

Raman made the announcement during an event at the Van Nuys/Sherman Oaks Recreation Center, where supporters gathered for a campaign kickoff before volunteers headed into nearby neighborhoods for door-to-door outreach.

“I’ve spent the last five years in City Hall, and I’ve tried so hard. My team and I have tried so hard to intervene aggressively on the most urgent issues that this city is facing, our housing and homelessness crisis, building a better safety response, getting our basic services to work for people,” Raman said at the event. “But over and over again, in the building, in City Hall, I found myself running into a wall of reluctance, a reluctance to move forward with the transformative policy change that this city needs right now.”

Raman said that reluctance, in her view, stems from political caution and a fear of angering voters, which she believes is preventing the city from making needed changes. She said Los Angeles has the ability to tackle its biggest challenges.

“I see possibility everywhere and in everyone in this city. I know we can build the housing that we need to make this city affordable, to bring our neighborhoods back to life,” Raman said. “We can build clear, accountable systems for homelessness and public safety, and we can show up for people when they need help in exactly the way that we need, and we can help them.”

Raman said L.A. should reprioritize its budget to repair basic services and defend local communities from federal policies she opposes, adding that the effort will require honesty and hard work.

The councilwoman filed paperwork last month to run for mayor ahead of the June 2 primary election. Her decision to run came amid a shifting field of potential challengers in the days leading up to the filing deadline.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath ended weeks of speculation about a potential run, announcing last month that she would instead focus on her campaign for a second term on the Board of Supervisors.

Two other prominent figures decided against entering the race. Former Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Austin Beutner withdrew from consideration after the sudden death of his 22-year-old daughter, Emily, in January. Beutner said the loss required him to focus on his family rather than the demands of a mayoral campaign.

Billionaire developer Rick Caruso, who lost to Bass in the 2022 mayoral election, also ruled out another run last month after considering the possibility earlier in the year.

Last month, Raman described her relationship with Bass as “strong and close,” built over the last few years. She said she spoke with Bass about her mayoral run but did not provide further details, saying that she “prefers to maintain that privacy right now.”

“I do feel like Angelenos have really given us a lot of faith. Voted for more taxes to address affordable housing issues, to address homelessness, to address some of our biggest crises, and if we don’t show results to them, I think we will lose them,” Raman said after announcing her candidacy.

“We are making decisions about our budget that are based on political calculations, as opposed to what is best for Angelenos and what is best for Los Angeles’ middle class,” Raman added. “I think we can change.”

Bass admitted she didn’t expect a challenge from Raman.

“Well first of all, it was a surprise,” Bass told reporters last month. “We have been great allies, especially on the issue of homelessness. And I will tell you that I will look forward to working with Nithya Raman in my second term.”

Douglas Herman, a campaign advisor for Bass, criticized Raman’s mayoral bid.

“The last thing Los Angeles needs is a politician who opposed cleaning up homeless encampments and efforts to make our city safer,” he said following Raman’s decision. “Mayor Bass will continue changing L.A. by building on her track record delivering L.A.’s first sustained decrease in street homelessness, a 60-year low in homicides, and the most aggressive agenda our city has ever seen to make our city more affordable.”

Speaking at her formal campaign launch event Sunday, Raman reflected on her personal journey and commitment to the city.

“I immigrated to this country, and I moved as an adult to this city, and L.A. has given me and my family everything,” Raman said. “I first ran for office with no political connections, no ties to special interests, no other reason than to give everything I have to this city, to delivering a city that works, bringing as many people into that work as possible. And I want to make another commitment to you today. I give myself to the city once again.”

Other challengers to Bass include Spencer Pratt, a reality television personality and Palisades Fire survivor; and Rae Huang, a community organizer.

Adam Miller, founder and former CEO of workforce education firm Cornerstone OnDemand, announced his bid for mayor last month.

Of the 10 Los Angeles mayors to have sought a second term since the office’s term became four years in 1925, only two have been denied second terms ' John C. Porter in 1929 and James Hahn in 2005.

Raman was elected in 2020 and re-elected in 2024 to represent the Fourth Council District, representing communities in the southern portion of the San Fernando Valley and eastern Santa Monica Mountains such as Encino, Sherman Oaks, Studio City and Hollywood Hills, as well as Griffith Park, Los Feliz and Silver Lake.

Raman’s first successful council bid was supported by the Democratic Socialists of America ' the same political organization that bolstered Zohran Mamdani, who won his election for mayor of New York City last year.

She chairs the council’s Housing and Homelessness Committee and is part of the council’s more left-leaning bloc alongside colleagues Eunisses Hernandez, Hugo Soto-Martinez and Ysabel Jurado.

 

]]> 5341056 2026-03-08T19:48:06+00:00 2026-03-08T19:52:43+00:00

Woman arrested on suspicion of shooting at Rihannas home near Beverly Hills; no injuries reported
https://www.dailybreeze.com/2026/03/08/person-arrested-on-suspicion-of-shooting-at-rihannas-beverly-hills-home-no-injuries-reported/ Mon, 09 Mar 2026 01:15:53 +0000 https://www.dailybreeze.com/?p=5341029&preview=true&preview_id=5341029

A woman was arrested after a shooting at pop and R&B music star Rihanna’s Beverly Hills-area home Sunday afternoon, March 8, CBS LA reported.

Officers responded around 1:15 p.m. after a report of multiple shots fired at the home. They took someone into custody and also recovered a weapon, Los Angeles Police said.

No injuries were reported. Seven “assault rifle casings” were found at the home, police told CBS LA.

An LAPD official confirmed to CBS LA that the singer owns the home in LA’s Post Office neighborhood.

Police told CBS LA they believe a woman in her 30s shot at the home seven times from a car parked outside before driving away. The suspect’s white Tesla was found about eight miles away at the Sherman Oaks Galleria, where she was taken into custody, CBS LA reported.

Police haven’t revealed if the singer, her husband, rapper A$AP Rocky, or any of their three children were home at the time of the shooting, according to CBS LA.

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5341029 2026-03-08T18:15:53+00:00 2026-03-08T21:51:51+00:00


A son of Irans late supreme leader is chosen to replace his father as war rages
https://www.dailybreeze.com/2026/03/08/a-son-of-irans-late-supreme-leader-is-chosen-to-replace-his-father-as-war-rages/ Sun, 08 Mar 2026 23:58:23 +0000 https://www.dailybreeze.com/?p=5340952&preview=true&preview_id=5340952

By JON GAMBRELL

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) ' Mojtaba Khamenei, a son of Irans late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who was named as his successor Sunday, had long been considered a contender to the post even before an Israeli strike killed his father and despite the fact he had never been elected or appointed to a government position.

A secretive figure within the Islamic Republic, Mojtaba Khamenei was not seen publicly in the days after an Israeli airstrike targeting the supreme leaders offices killed his 86-year-old father at the start of the war. Also killed in that strike were the younger Khameneis wife, Zahra Haddad Adel, who came from a family long associated with the countrys theocracy.

Mojtaba Khamenei will now have a central say in Irans war strategy with the countrys powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guard answering to him. The announcement of his selection came after signs of a rift among Iranian officials as Iran awaited the decision by the 88-seat Assembly of Experts, a group of clerics that selects the supreme leader.

His candidacy may have been indirectly boosted by U.S. President Donald Trump who criticized Khamenei in an interview with news website Axios on Thursday and insisted that he be involved in selecting Irans next leader. 'They are wasting their time. Khameneis son is a lightweight. I have to be involved in the appointment,' Trump said, referring to his operation that saw the U.S. military seize former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. 'Khameneis son is unacceptable to me,' Trump added. 'We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran.'

Profile of Khameneis son rose after airstrike

The idea of having Mojtaba Khamenei replace his father had been criticized as potentially creating a theocratic version of Irans former hereditary monarchy. But his stock rose after his father and his wife were killed and became martyrs in the war against America and Israel in the eyes of hard-liners.

The younger Khamenei has gained control not only of an Iranian military now at war but also a stockpile of highly enriched uranium that could be used to build a nuclear weapon ' should he choose to decree it.

Prior to his selection, Khamenei had occupied a similar role to that of Ahmad Khomeini, a son of Irans first Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini ' 'a combination of aide-de-camp, confidant, gatekeeper and power broker,' according to United Against Nuclear Iran, a U.S.-based pressure group.

Born into dissent

Born in 1969 in the city of Mashhad, some 10 years before the 1979 Islamic Revolution that would sweep Iran, Khamenei grew up as his father agitated against Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

An official biography of Ali Khameneis recounts a moment when the shahs secret police, the SAVAK, broke into their home and beat the cleric. Woken up after, Mojtaba and the rest of Khameneis children were told their father was going on vacation.

'But I told them, ‘There is no need to lie. I told them the truth,' the elder Khamenei was quoted as saying.

After the fall of the shah, Khameneis family moved to Tehran, Irans capital. Khamenei would go on to fight in the Iran-Iraq war with the Habib ibn Mazahir Battalion, a division of Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard that would see several of its members ascend to powerful intelligence positions within the force ' likely with the backing of the Khamenei family.

His father became supreme leader in 1989 ' and soon Mojtaba Khamenei and his family had access to the billions of dollars and business assets spread across Irans many bonyads, or foundations, funded from state industries and other wealth once held by the shah.

Power rises with his fathers

His own power rose alongside his fathers, working within his offices in downtown Tehran. U.S. diplomatic cables published by WikiLeaks in the late 2000s began referring to the younger Khamenei as 'the power behind the robes.' One recounted an allegation that Khamenei actually tapped his own fathers phone, served as his 'principal gatekeeper' and had been forming his own power base within the country.

Khamenei 'is widely viewed within the regime as a capable and forceful leader and manager who may someday succeed to at least a share of national leadership; his father may also see him in that light,' a 2008 cable read, also noting his lack of theological qualifications and age.

'Mojtaba is, however, due to his skills, wealth, and unmatched alliances, reportedly seen by a number of regime insiders as a plausible candidate for shared leadership of Iran upon his fathers demise, whether that demise is soon or years in the future,' it said.

Khamenei has worked closely with Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, both with commanders of its expeditionary Quds Force and its all-volunteer Basij that violently suppressed nationwide protests in January, the U.S. Treasury has said.

The United States sanctioned him in 2019 during the first term of U.S President Donald Trump over working to 'advance his fathers destabilizing regional ambitions and oppressive domestic objectives.'

That includes allegations that Khamenei from behind the scenes supported the election of hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2005 and his disputed reelection in 2009 that sparked the Green Movement protests.

Mahdi Karroubi, who was a presidential candidate in 2005 and 2009, denounced Khamenei as 'a masters son' and alleged he interfered in both votes. His father reportedly at the time said Khamenei was 'a master himself, not a masters son.'

Powers of supreme leader at stake

There has been only one other transfer of power in the office of supreme leader of Iran, the paramount decision-maker since the countrys 1979 Islamic Revolution. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini died at age 86 after being the figurehead of the revolution and leading Iran through its eight-year war with Iraq.

Now the new leader will come on board after the 12-day war with Israel and as a U.S.-Israeli war with Iran is seeking to eliminate Irans nuclear threat and military power, hoping also the Iranian people will rise up against the Iranian theocracy.

The supreme leader is at the heart of Irans complex power-sharing Shiite theocracy and has final say over all matters of state. He also serves as the commander-in-chief of the countrys military and the Guard, a paramilitary force that the United States designated a terrorist organization in 2019, and which his father empowered during his rule.

The Guard, which has led the self-described 'Axis of Resistance,' a series of militant groups and allies across the Middle East meant to counter the U.S. and Israel, also has extensive wealth and holdings in Iran. It also controls the countrys ballistic missile arsenal.

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5340952 2026-03-08T16:58:23+00:00 2026-03-08T16:59:00+00:00


Crude oil prices surpass $100 a barrel as the Iran war impedes production and shipping
https://www.dailybreeze.com/2026/03/08/crude-oil-prices-surpass-100-a-barrel-as-the-iran-war-impedes-production-and-shipping-2/ Sun, 08 Mar 2026 23:58:14 +0000 https://www.dailybreeze.com/?p=5340986&preview=true&preview_id=5340986

By ALEX VEIGA

CHICAGO (AP) ' Oil prices eclipsed $100 per barrel for the first time in more than three and a half years Sunday as the Iran war hinders production and shipping in the Middle East.

The price for a barrel of Brent crude, the international standard, was at $107.97 after trading resumed on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, up 16.5% from its Friday closing price of $92.69.

West Texas Intermediate, the light, sweet crude oil produced in the United States, was selling for about $106.22 a barrel. Thats 16.9% higher than it closed Friday at $90.90.

Both could rise or fall as market trading continued.

The increases followed the U.S. crude price jumping by 36% and Brent crude rising by 28% last week. Oil prices have surged as the war, now in its second week, ensnared countries and places that are critical to the production and movement of oil and gas from the Persian Gulf.

Roughly 15 million barrels of crude oil ' about 20% of the worlds oil ' typically are shipped every day through the Strait of Hormuz, according to independent research firm Rystad Energy. The threat of Iranian missile and drone attacks has all but stopped tankers from traveling through the strait, which is bordered in the north by Iran, carry oil and gas from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Iran.

Iraq, Kuwait and the UAE have cut their oil production as storage tanks fill due to the reduced ability to export crude. Iran, Israel and the United States also have attacked oil and gas facilities since the war started, exacerbating supply concerns.

The last time U.S. crude futures traded above $100 per barrel was June 30, 2022, when the price reached $105.76. For Brent, it was July 29, 2022, when the price hit $104 per barrel.

The global surge in oil prices since Israel and the U.S. attacked Iran on March 1 has rattled financial markets, sparking worries that higher energy costs will fuel inflation and lead to less spending by U.S. consumers, the main engine of the economy.

In the U.S., a gallon of regular gasoline rose to $3.45 on Sunday, about 47 cents more than a week earlier, according to AAA motor club. Diesel was selling for about $4.60 a gallon, a weekly increase of about 83 cents.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright, speaking on CNNs 'State of the Union,' said U.S. gas prices would be back under $3 a gallon 'before too long.'

'Look, you never know exactly the time frame of this, but, in the worst case, this is a weeks, this is not a months thing,' Wright added.

If oil prices stay above $100 per barrel, some analysts and investors say it could be too much for the global economy to withstand.

Iranian authorities said strikes by Israel on oil depots in Tehran and a petroleum transfer terminal early Sunday killed four people. Israels military said the depots were being used by Irans military for fuel to launch missiles. Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the speaker of Irans parliament, warned that the wars impact on the oil industry would spiral.

Iran exports roughly 1.6 million barrels of oil a day, mostly to China, which may need to look elsewhere for supply if Irans exports are disrupted, another factor that could increase energy prices.

The price of natural gas also has climbed during the war, though not by as much as oil. It was selling for about $3.33 per 1,000 cubic feet late Sunday. Thats 4.6% higher than its Friday closing price of $3.19, after rising about 11% last week.

U.S. stock index futures, a bellwether for the market, fell late Sunday, pointing to Wall Streets main indexes opening down on Monday. The future for the S&P 500 was down 1.6%, while the Dows fell 1.8%. The future for the Nasdaq composite was down 1.5%.

On Friday, the S&P 500 dropped 1.3% and the Dow plunged as many as 945 points before finishing with a loss of roughly 450, and the Nasdaq sank 1.6%.

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5340986 2026-03-08T16:58:14+00:00 2026-03-08T17:02:00+00:00


World-class varsity regatta enlivens Port of L.A.s Outer Harbor
https://www.dailybreeze.com/2026/03/08/world-class-varsity-regatta-enlivens-port-of-l-a-s-outer-harbor/ Sun, 08 Mar 2026 22:18:49 +0000 https://www.dailybreeze.com/?p=5340912&preview=true&preview_id=5340912 Port of Los Angeles Harbor Cup/Cal Maritime Invitational Regatta ' graced San Pedro’s Outer Harbor this weekend as varsity college teams competed in one-design sailboats.

Hosted by the Los Angeles Yacht Club and Cal Maritime Athletics at Cal Poly Maritime Academy, the event was founded in 2008 for men and women competing in offshore sailboat racing. Teams compete in one-design Catalina 37 keelboats.

The three-day West Coast regatta (which began Friday) provides participants with “the opportunity to challenge themselves and match their skills against some of the best collegiate sailors in the country,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn said in a welcoming letter. “With the (2028) Olympic Games soon to be taking place in Los Angeles, this is an excellent opportunity for sailors to get as much practice in (as possible) as well as for spectators to enjoy local competition.”

The varsity team event is based at the Los Angeles Yacht Club, 285 Whalers Walk in San Pedro, and featured some 100 coed sailors from leading universities.

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5340912 2026-03-08T15:18:49+00:00 2026-03-08T15:30:51+00:00


For organizers and their city partners, heat, humanity and global community define LA Marathon 2026
https://www.dailybreeze.com/2026/03/08/for-organizers-and-their-city-partners-heat-humanity-and-global-community-define-la-marathon-2026/ Sun, 08 Mar 2026 21:16:48 +0000 https://www.dailybreeze.com/?p=5340872&preview=true&preview_id=5340872

With temperatures climbing into the mid to high 80s by late morning, heat became the defining factor for this years Los Angeles Marathon, testing runners and planners.

Emergency planners expanded cooling resources along the route, adding misting stations, ice supplies and additional medical support to help runners facing rising temperatures.

'When you start seeing heat like that across a course this long, it changes the operational picture,' said L.A. Fire Department Battalion Chief Brian Wall, part of the Unified Command overseeing race operations. 'We increased cooling resources and ensure we had the medical support in place to respond quickly.'

Wall pointed to a key safety provision built into the course around Mile 18, where the route doubles back toward the finish so runners could cross to the return side rather than continuing through the most demanding stretch.

'That option can reduce exposure by as much as 8 miles,' Wall said. 'Its one of the ways we adapt operations to protect participants.'

For city emergency planners, the marathon also serves as a rehearsal for the future.

'Events like this bring together LAFD, LAPD, LADOT, race organizers and regional partners in a unified effort,' Wall said. 'Those relationships are critical. As Los Angeles prepares for global events like the FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics, this kind of coordination allows us to strengthen partnerships and refine how we operate at scale.'

While the operational planning behind the race is vast, the marathon ultimately belongs to the runners.

This years race also coincided with International Womens Day, highlighted by the ASICS L.A. Marathon 100 Women Program, which brought together 100 women who trained for 16 weeks through a partnership with Believe in the Run and coaches Meghan Featherston and Meg Murray.

'We wanted to build a true running community,' said Karen Manes, director of communications for ASICS North America. 'From sub-3 hour marathoners to women running their first marathon, they came from across the country and even around the world. Seeing those friendships form has been the highlight.'

The runners met for the first time during race weekend, bonding through shakeout runs and shared training stories.

'Running is a universal language,' Manes said. 'Bringing these women together on International Womens Day at a race like the L.A. Marathon made it incredibly meaningful.'

For Brittany Uenberger of Monterey, part of the ASICS LA 100 women group, the experience was unforgettable.

'Id never done the L.A. Marathon before and it was awesome,' she said. 'The crowds were incredible. At one point there was confetti and music and people screaming. I just started smiling.'

Hannah Punt of Idaho Falls, Idaho, running her first marathon after the 16-week training program, said the support along the course carried her through the toughest miles.

'I found someone in the last 6 miles who basically saved my life,' she said with a laugh. 'Running this race, I was thinking about my kids. I want them to see that moms are bad asses.'

This race has the ability to bring together people from around the world. Gary Davidson and Neil Jones flew from London less than 24 hours before the start as part of their quest to run marathons across the globe. Members of the international running collective Runners United, the pair have completed more than 70 marathons worldwide and already were planning their next races in Cyprus and Ibiza.

'We travel around the world running,' Davidson said. 'But this one is special. The people here are incredible. Everywhere we ran people were cheering, yelling ‘Brits, Brits. Its the energy of Los Angeles.'

For first-time visitors, the marathon offered a rare way to see the city running through its street. Jack Downey, visiting from New York for his 29th marathon, said the race pushed him to his limits.

'It was way hotter and hillier than I expected,' he said. 'There were moments I thought about dropping out, but when I run I think about my family and my relatives who came to this country as immigrants. That helps carry me forward.'

Others battled adversity of a different kind. Garrett Bermudez injured himself 6 miles into the race but refused to quit.

'I told myself I wasnt going to stop,' Bermudez said after completing his third L.A. Marathon. 'I prayed and asked God to give me the strength to reach the finish.'

Despite the setback, he persevered through the heat and still managed to achieve a personal record.

Community proved to be another powerful motivator. Members of the Venice Run Club paced one another through the rising temperatures.

'It was really hot out there, but the crowd energy was amazing,' Allison Gertler said. 'It was tough, but it was still a lot of fun.'

Lewis Castro, another member of the group, ran with a deeper dedication.

'Todays run is for those who cant run, those who wish they could run and those who passed,' he said. 'The message is simple; keep going, one day at a time.'

For William Feasey, an aerospace engineering PhD student who moved to Southern California two years ago, the marathon offered a unique perspective on the city.

'Its L.A. at its best,' he said. 'When else do you get the roads closed and just run freely through the city with people cheering the whole way?'

The finish line carried meaning far beyond the race.

Iranian-born Nousha Alimi, 49, struggled to find the words after completing her third L.A. Marathon.

'It means everything,' she said quietly. 'Running is freedom. I run for my people, for my community, for hope.'

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5340872 2026-03-08T14:16:48+00:00 2026-03-08T17:01:36+00:00


Hundreds of students make the LA Marathon their own
https://www.dailybreeze.com/2026/03/08/hundreds-of-students-make-the-la-marathon-their-own/ Sun, 08 Mar 2026 20:21:55 +0000 https://www.dailybreeze.com/?p=5340842&preview=true&preview_id=5340842

From resilience after wildfire disruptions to running in memory of a beloved son, about 3,000 young Angelenos took on the Los Angeles Marathon, proving the citys next generation is stronger than ever.

On a scorching March morning, as elite runners surged through the streets and thousands of spectators lined the course, one of the most powerful stories unfolding at the 2026 ASICS Los Angeles Marathon belonged not to professionals, but to students across 200 middle and high school students from across Los Angeles County lined up for the race through Students Run L.A., a program that has quietly transformed young lives for more than 37 years by guiding teenagers through the challenge of running a full marathon

For many of them, the journey began months earlier with early morning practices, weekend training runs and a belief that something seemingly impossible like a marathon could actually be done. But for many this is a return.

'Were really excited about all the work our students have put into the season,' said Gaby Arvizu, president and CEO of Students Run L.A. 'What stands out most is their resilience and their focus. They support one another to accomplish their goals and that sense of community is incredibly powerful.'

Students spent months preparing together, building not only endurance, but friendships that carried them through every mile. The path to this years marathon was not easy.

Last year, many SRLA participants faced a unique obstacle when wildfire impacts disrupted training schedules and forced organizers to cancel a major milestone event in their training calendar, the Rose Bowl Half Marathon.

Signs direct Students Run Los Angeles participants at the LA Marathon on Sunday, March 8. Photo: Michelle Edgar
Signs direct Students Run Los Angeles participants at the LA Marathon on Sunday, March 8. Photo: Michelle Edgar

Instead of running together in Pasadena, students were forced to complete the 13.1-mile race virtually, running separately with their school groups.

'They had to run the half marathon basically on their own with their school sites,' Arvizu said. 'But they remained focused on their training journey.'

That determination carried into this year.

'Despite everything going on in the world, they remain very positive and optimistic,' she said. 'Theyre committed to this journey and accomplishing the goals.'

For many teenagers, the marathon represents something far bigger than a race. It becomes a lesson in discipline, perseverance and belief in themselves.

The marathon fell on International Womens Day, adding another layer of celebration to the event. SRLA has been working intentionally to increase opportunities for young women in endurance sports, and the effort is paying off.

'Last year we saw the highest number of female participation ever, with 49% girls in the program,' Arvizu said. 'Its exciting to see that continued momentum and to celebrate the female runners and leaders who serve as role models.'

For Paul Trapani, one of the programs cofounders nearly four decades ago, this years marathon carried an especially emotional weight. Just weeks before the race, Trapanis son, Cameron, died at age 32. For years, Cameron had been deeply connected to the SRLA community, becoming in many ways a symbol of the programs spirit.

'This year is particularly special,' Trapani said quietly at the race.

Cameron had lived with multiple disabilities and health challenges throughout his life. Yet those who knew him remember a person defined not by hardship but by strength and joy.

'He overcame a tremendous number of obstacles throughout his life,' Trapani said. 'And he did it with strength and persistence.'

In many ways, the values Cameron embodied mirror the philosophy of Students Run L.A. The program teaches young runners to pursue their best selves, not by competing against others, but by overcoming their own challenges.

'Being the best you can be without worrying about being better than anyone else,' Trapani said. 'Thats what Cameron represented.'

In honor of Cameron, many runners chose to wear black ribbons during the race. Trapani hopes the gesture carries a broader meaning.

'Im hopeful that when people wear the ribbon, its not just about Cameron,' he said. 'Maybe its about someone in their life that they loved and lost.'

For many participants, that spirit of remembrance became fuel during the hardest miles of the race.

Behind every SRLA runner is a network of volunteer coaches who dedicate months guiding students through the marathon journey.

At 32nd Street School, leader Bryan Birrueta has watched some of his runners grow up within the program.

'Some of these students have been running for five or six years now, since seventh grade,' Birrueta said. 'This might be their last marathon with us, so its special.'

The marathon is often the culmination of years of mentorship and dedication.

Leaders become trusted figures in their students lives, helping them navigate challenges both on and off the course.

'This race is about more than running,' Birrueta said. 'Its about seeing what theyre capable of.'

Along the marathon course, the students themselves tell the story best. For Damian Mendoza, a student at Bravo Medical Magnet High School, the marathon marked his third time completing the race. Training began months ago.

'We started training around August or September,' Mendoza said.

Through long Saturday runs and grueling mileage, he leaned on the people around him.

'I was glad to run with my friends for most of the race,' he said. 'They helped motivate me and push me through.'

When asked what carried him through the toughest miles, Mendoza didnt hesitate.

'My family and my friends,' he said. 'All the people that support me in my life.'

Fabricio Martinez, 16, already was running his fourth marathon through SRLA. He joined the program in middle school after discovering a love for running as a child. Throughout the race, he focused on one simple strategy: 'I just think of each mile as a milestone,' he said.

The final stretch tested him.

'The last six miles were very hard, but I made it through,' he said.

For senior Nicolas Soltero, this years race carried a sense of closure. It was his fourth SRLA marathon and likely his final one before graduation.

'This one was really challenging,' Soltero said. 'The heat definitely played a big factor.'

As the miles added up, he found motivation in the people waiting for him at the finish line.

'I thought about my family and my friends,' he said. 'I didnt want to disappoint them.'

After crossing the finish line, one person in particular was on his mind.

'My girlfriend surprised me and came today,' he said with a smile.

For Nicholas Gomez, known to his teammates as 'A-Train,' the race was a chance to take in the city one last time before graduating.

'This marathon meant a lot,' he said. 'Its my last year since Im a senior.'

His favorite moment?

'Seeing the Oscar statue,' he said, laughing. 'I even got a selfie with it.'

For coaches like Oscar de la Baya, watching students achieve something so difficult never gets old.

'We have ten students running today,' he said. 'Theyve been putting in all the work. Every day they show up and run.' Seeing them finish the marathon is something special. 'Its just the most amazing feat that theyre accomplishing.'

For the students, the experience will stay with them long after the soreness fades because running a marathon at 17 or 18 years old is not just a race, but a blueprint for life.

As Trapani reflected on the meaning of this years race, the lesson felt especially clear.

'These kids are out there overcoming obstacles and when completing the race, theyll feel the gratitude and accomplishment that comes with it,' he said.

 

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5340842 2026-03-08T13:21:55+00:00 2026-03-08T16:52:57+00:00


American Nathan Martin wins 2026 Los Angeles Marathon in dramatic photo finish
https://www.dailybreeze.com/2026/03/08/american-nathan-martin-wins-the-2026-los-angeles-marathon-in-a-photo-finish/ Sun, 08 Mar 2026 18:42:53 +0000 https://www.dailybreeze.com/?p=5340797&preview=true&preview_id=5340797

LOS ANGELES ' After 26.2 miles, the 2026 Los Angeles Marathon still came down to a photo finish Sunday.

American Nathan Martin, a 36-year-old high school cross-country coach from Jackson, Michigan, ran 2 hours, 11 minutes and 16 seconds (five minutes per mile) to claim victory with a ferocious kick that came down to his final stride.

He trailed from the start at Dodger Stadium and past such landmarks as the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, before storming down the home stretch for the win along Santa Monica Boulevard in Century City.

' Also see: A sizzling LA Marathon: Hot weather meets Hollywood ending for truly memorable day

'I was digging pretty deep,' said Martin, who is the fastest U.S.-born African American marathoner ever with a personal best time of 2:10:45 from 2023. 'I was in the hurt locker for sure.'

Martins exact winning time of 2:11:16.50 seconds narrowly edged out Kenyas Michael Kamaus time of 2:11.16.94 for second place by a hundredth of a second. Ethiopias Enyew Nigat, 24, finished third in 2:14.22.

'Its one of those things where you have to believe, but until you manifest it, its just kind of an idea,' Martin said. 'Its surreal because I thought I could win and I did it.'

However, Kamau, who faded at the finish, started to pull away from the rest of the field at Mile 10 and led all challengers by more than a minute, including the hard-charging Martin, until the final mile.

'I always challenge myself to push,' Martin said, 'regardless of whether theres somebody to chase or Im all by myself because I want to know I finished giving everything that I had. I know I can always do that. You cant always win but you can always push. Im just super fortunate that effort gave me the win.'

As a Black American distance runner, Martins message is one of perseverance. He is the second American to win the race since 1994.

'Never give up,' Martin said. 'Never assume what youre supposed to be good at. Always test yourself. Always find new opportunities because its not necessarily about what you like to do or what feels fun. Its what youre good at and what youre willing to challenge yourself to achieve and accomplish a lot of amazing things.'

WOMEN’S RACE

Meanwhile, an unexpected wire-to-wire run by a 45-year-old mother of three captured victory in the womens race.

 

Kenya’s Priscah Cherono won the womens marathon in a time of 2 hours, 25 minutes and 19 seconds (5:33 minutes per mile) and the $10,000 Marathon Chase bonus.

'The race was so good,' Cherono said. 'I was feeling OK to start. I start alone. I was waiting to see some ladies, but I didnt, and then I decided I could go all the way.'

Cherono challenged the previous course record of 2:24:11, which was set by Ethiopias Askale Merachi in 2019.

American Kellyn Taylor, a 39-year-old mother of four, finished second in 2:27.36.

'I think its like anything,' Taylor said, 'you put your mind to something and you do it. I think thats something that you always want to show your kids that if they work hard for something, theyre going to be able to obtain it.'

Kenyas Antonina Kwabai finished third in 2:28:50. Ethiopias Tejinesh Gebisa Tulu, the defending women’s champion, dropped out in the later stages of the race.

Cherono made an early move before sunrise to lead the womens race after Mile 1. She came into the race with a 2:25:17 personal best from The Marathon Project race in Chandler, Arizona, in December, and opened a 42-second advantage after 3 miles, running a blistering 16:16 through 5K.

'I was OK because normally I train alone,' Cherono said.

Cherono crossed 10K in 33:07 and widened her margin to nearly two minutes ahead of the chase pack at Mile 6, which included 33-year-old American Makenna Myler, a mother of two, who finished ninth in 2:35.

MARATHON NOTES

American Matthew Richtman, the defending mens champion who won last years race in 2:07:56, was among the leaders early, running 31:36 at the 10K mark in the mens race.

Richtman, who has been limited by injury in his training cycle leading up to this race, dropped out before the halfway point.

The Marathon Chase challenge gave the elite womens field a 15:45 head start over the men, which meant making up an average deficit of 36 seconds per mile.

A $10,000 bonus was awarded to the first runner to cross the finish line, which Cherono claimed with a big smile.

'I am so happy,' Cherono said. 'I can do anything with money.'

The top three finishers in Sunday’s men’s wheelchair race were Miguel Jiminez Vergara of Chula Vista in a time of 1:42:13.28, Luis Franco Sanclemente of Colombia in 1:45:33.01, and Joshua Cassidy of Canada in 1:45:53.60.

The top three female finishers in the wheelchair race were Hannah Babalola of Nigeria in 2:17:48.86, Luca Montenegro of Argentina in 2:20:02.28, and Yeni Aide Hernandez Mendieta of Mexico in 2:27:22.22.

 

]]> 5340797 2026-03-08T11:42:53+00:00 2026-03-08T15:03:50+00:00

A sizzling LA Marathon: Hot weather meets Hollywood ending for truly memorable day
https://www.dailybreeze.com/2026/03/08/a-sizzling-la-marathon-hot-weather-meets-hollywood-ending-for-truly-memorable-day/ Sun, 08 Mar 2026 18:34:19 +0000 https://www.dailybreeze.com/?p=5340828&preview=true&preview_id=5340828

It was warm. It was wild. And for scores of athletes and the throngs that lined a route packed with familiar photo opportunities to cheer them on, it was wonderful.

Befitting its glitzy reputation, Sunday morning’s 41st Los Angeles Marathon was packed with even more show-biz moments than usual.

More than 27,000 racers — the race sold out weeks ago — rose before dawn and took off through the streets of La La Land with temperatures already tipping past 60 degrees at 7 a.m. A couple of hours later, a mother of three in her mid-40s snagged the top prize and two men tumbled dramatically into the tape in the closest finish in Los Angeles Marathon history. Hollywood moments indeed.

Higher-than-usual temperatures, meanwhile, prompted organizers to announce runners need to only complete 18 miles of the 26-mile, 385-yard-course from Dodger Stadium to Century City to receive a finisher’s medal.

Tyco drummers keeps the beat as runners head up first street during the 41st Los Angeles Marathon on Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Tyco drummers keeps the beat as runners head up first street during the 41st Los Angeles Marathon on Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

One attendee standing along Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, hoisting a sign that read “You Look So Hot,” summed up the moment — in more ways than one — as temperatures climbed into the 70s turned the the race’s final stretch into a sun-steeped endurance test.

And that was all before 10 a.m.

The event, one of the four largest marathons in the U.S. and among the top 10 globally, provided myriad crossroads moments — for the winners, for scores of participants for for the running culture.

Organizers reported that 79% of participants were Millennials or Gen Z, with more than 200 run clubs represented and hundreds of runners taking part in honor of loved ones or through charity fundraising efforts.

One of the most powerful stories unfolding on the course was the growing presence of adaptive athletes, many of whom have turned personal adversity into extraordinary athletic achievement.

Deborah Carabet, parathlete coordinator for the ASICS L.A. Marathon, said this year marked one of the largest adaptive fields in the races history.

'We have close to 90 para athletes competing this year, including our professional race chair athletes, hand cyclists and runners supported through organizations like Achilles,' Carabet said. 'Its one of the divisions Im most excited about.'

For many participants, the race has become one of the most welcoming events in the world for athletes with disabilities.

'L.A. is becoming known for its para division,' Carabet said. 'Its a great race to do. You start downtown and run through all these different neighborhoods and you feel the energy in every one of them. Its a very para-friendly race.'

The growing adaptive division reflects the marathons broader commitment to inclusion and access, a message that resonated strongly on International Womens Day, when many participants also highlighted the importance of encouraging more women to participate in endurance sports.

Ted and Tabby Elias at Sunday's Los Angeles Marathon. Photo: Michelle Edgar
Ted and Tabby Elias at Sunday’s Los Angeles Marathon. Photo: Michelle Edgar

For Tabby Elias, who has run the race multiple times, the race carries a deeply personal meaning as she and her husband, Ted, run for World Vision.

'This is our fifth L.A. Marathon,' she said. 'We started running it during COVID when there were almost no spectators. But every year since then, its become something really special for our family.'

Elias suffered a traumatic brain injury after being struck by a car two decades ago, leaving her in a wheelchair. Yet the marathon has become a celebration of resilience for their entire family. Their daughter, who was just five months old at the time of the crash and miraculously was unharmed, is now old enough to take part in the event, running the half marathon.

The family also uses the marathon as a platform for philanthropy, raising money for charitable causes including organizations focused on providing clean water to communities around the world.

'Our charity raised about $25,000 this year to help build wells for clean water,' she said.

For Ted Elias, participating in the marathon represents something far greater than simply crossing a finish line.

'It brings my life so much greater meaning than just running the L.A. Marathon,' he said. 'Everyone here is so encouraging. The way people cheer for her, its amazing. It almost feels like church.'

Another athlete redefining what is possible was Beth Sanden, a 72-year-old adaptive athlete whose marathon career spans the globe.

'Ive run on all seven continents, in 48 countries and completed 149 marathons and triathlons,' Sanden said.

Sundays race marked her 18th L.A. Marathon, an achievement that speaks to a lifetime of dedication to endurance sports.

'When youre 72 and still actively doing this, it means a lot,' she said with a smile.

Sandens path to becoming an adaptive athlete came after a devastating cycling crash during a race. While descending a hill, she hit broken asphalt and crashed, shattering her T6 and T7 vertebrae and becoming a paraplegic.

'I fell off my bike going downhill around a right hand turn,' she recalled. 'The bike slipped on broken asphalt in water and I shattered my T6 and T7.'

Yet her recovery defied expectations.

'Eighteen months later, my right leg came back,' she said. 'God willing and thank you Jesus, I got my leg back and was able to get out of the chair and walk again.'

While she can no longer run, Sanden has continued competing as an adaptive athlete, traveling the world and completing marathons across continents. Her goal at this years race was as ambitious as ever.

'Im hoping to qualify for (the) Boston (Marathon) again,' she said. 'This would be my 16th Boston.'

For Sanden, the L.A. Marathon always has held a special place among the races she has completed.

'Weve had different courses over the years and I loved the old downhill finish into Santa Monica,' she said. 'But honestly, the best moment is always coming into the finish line. That feeling never gets old.'

On a day that also celebrated womens achievements around the world, the stories of athletes like Sanden, Tabby, and the dozens of para competitors on the course served as a reminder that resilience, strength, and determination come in many forms.

For Carabet, seeing that spirit unfold each year is what makes the event special.

'This race is about possibility,' she said. 'Every one of these athletes is showing what the human spirit can do.'

Father-son duo Shaun and Shamus Evans, ASICS ambassadors who have become global advocates for inclusion in endurance sports completed more than 50 marathons.

Shamus was born with cerebral palsy and uses a power wheelchair. Since beginning their racing journey in 2013, the duo has run thousands of miles, including a remarkable 3,205 mile run across America in just 60 days to raise awareness for cerebral palsy and inspire athletes of all abilities.

'For as long as I can remember, my dad was a marathon runner,' Shamus said. 'He started running with me when I was a baby in my jogging chair during his training runs. When I outgrew that, we got a new set of wheels and decided to start racing together. I loved being part of the running community.'

For Shaun, running has always been about making sure his son experiences life fully.

'Despite Shamus being born with cerebral palsy, my wife Nichole and I always wanted him to be included in whatever he wanted to try,” he said. “Running together lets him experience the wind in his face, and his smile always leads the way.'

Each year, runners help raise millions for charity.

In 2026, more than 1,600 charity runners representing more than 125 official charities are expected to raise more than $4 million across the 5K, half marathon and marathon events.

The wheel chair athletes head out from Dodger Stadium at the start of the 41st Los Angeles Marathon on Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The wheel chair athletes head out from Dodger Stadium at the start of the 41st Los Angeles Marathon on Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The McCourt Foundation, which organizes the marathon, has more than 650 runners in its Team TMF, who have raised money for the foundation.

The more than 125 charities benefiting from the race include the Live Like Braun Foundation, which describes itself as celebrating “the enduring spirit and legacy of Braun Levi,” an 18-year-old tennis player who was struck and killed by a vehicle in Manhattan Beach driven by a suspected drunken driver May 4, less than two months after he ran the L.A. Marathon.

The foundation seeks to raise awareness about impaired driving risks and makes grants for scholarships to graduating high school students who embody Levi’s drive, passion and enthusiasm and repairing and building public tennis centers.

A 65-member “Run Like Braun” team entered the marathon, seeking to raise money and awareness for the foundation.

“To run like Braun means to push your body to its limits, just as Braun did,” according to the foundation. “It’s not about running for the result, but running for a purpose.”

Levi completed the 2025 marathon in 4 hours, 39 minutes, 3 seconds after what the foundation called “little to no training.”

Jenia Resha Belt pleaded not guilty on Jan. 13 to murder, gross vehicular murder while intoxicated and driving with a suspended license in connection with Levi’s death.

For many runners, the event was more than a race — it was a moment where personal purpose met the shared energy of a city. This year, that meaning took many forms across the starting line.

British Consul General Paul Rennie ran his first marathon in Los Angeles, representing The Kings Trust as the organization celebrates 50 years supporting young people around the world. Rennie says the race carries special meaning as he takes on the distance for the very first time while supporting a global cause.

'Its not just my first time running the L.A. Marathon, but my first time running any marathon,' he said. 'But Im delighted to be doing it in support of a great charity, The Kings Trust, who for 50 years have done incredible work supporting young people in the U.K., in the U.S. and around the world.'

The race also launches the charitys '50 by 50' challenge, placing 50 runners across five global marathons to raise $50,000 for youth opportunity programs. What excites him most about Sunday was experiencing the city in a new way.

'Im most looking forward to a chance to see the streets of L.A .from a whole different perspective without the traffic,' he said.

Santa Monica artist Ruben Rojas. Photo: Michelle Edgar
Santa Monica artist Ruben Rojas. Photo: Michelle Edgar

For L.A. artist Ruben Rojas, a Santa Monica creator who has created more than 10 murals across the city through his 'Live Through Love' series, the marathon represented personal discovery. He was especially excited to run past one of his most recent works, located at H&H Bagels on Sunset Boulevard along the course. Just a year ago, he wasnt sure he could complete the distance.

Now, running past neighborhoods where his artwork lives, the race has become a new way to experience the city he helps inspire.

'Running gives me the chance to disconnect from everything,' he said. 'No phone, no messages. Just me, my body and the road.'

For cancer survivor Kate Bracco, the marathon remained something deeply personal as her 11th Los Angeles Marathon, running not only in remembrance of her father, but in celebration of resilience, survival and the power of returning to the road after cancer.

In July 2024, despite a lifetime of health and athleticism, Bracco was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at just 38-years-old. Doctors later told her she had likely been living with the cancer for more than six years before it was properly detected.

'Being diagnosed with cancer at 38 when I was so healthy my entire life was completely shocking.” she said. “Its something that is very difficult to digest. Its scary and requires patience while your body is going through recovery.'

As vice president of brand partnerships at Complex, Bracco has been running consistently for more than 25 years. What began as an outlet in her teenage years became a lifelong discipline. She wakes up every morning at 5 a.m. to run 7 to 8 miles before starting her workday.

'Running is my form of meditation,' she said. 'My job is performance based and always on. Running sets the tone for a positive, focused day.'

A lifelong runner who returned to the course after thyroid cancer surgery, she calls race day the most special day on the citys calendar.

'Its the best day in Los Angeles all year.'

City News Service contributed to this report.

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5340828 2026-03-08T11:34:19+00:00 2026-03-08T15:03:17+00:00


Iran wars targets widen into civilian infrastructure and Saudi Arabia reports first deaths
https://www.dailybreeze.com/2026/03/08/iran-wars-targets-widen-into-civilian-infrastructure-and-saudi-arabia-reports-first-deaths/ Sun, 08 Mar 2026 18:24:34 +0000 https://www.dailybreeze.com/?p=5340975&preview=true&preview_id=5340975

By JON GAMBRELL, SAM METZ, KAREEM CHEHAYEB and SAMY MAGDY

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) ' The Iran wars targets widened dangerously into civilian infrastructure Sunday as Bahrain accused Iran of striking one of the desalination plants that are crucial for Gulf nations drinking water.

While Israeli-struck oil depots smoldered in Tehran after a late-night strike, prompting environmental warnings for citizens, Irans president vowed to expand attacks on U.S. targets across the region on the ninth day of the war.

Saudi Arabia reported its first deaths, saying a military projectile fell onto a residential area and killed two people of Indian and Bangladeshi nationality. It said 12 other Bangladeshis were wounded. Foreign residents and workers have made up most of the wars deaths in Gulf nations.

Anger has grown in the region following hundreds of Iranian missile and drone strikes. Arab League chief Ahmed Abouel Gheit lashed out at Iran for a 'reckless policy' of attacking Arab countries.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have vowed to press ahead with the coordinated campaign against Iran, even as Washingtons stated war aims have varied. Trump told ABC News he wants a say in who comes to power in Iran once the war is over, adding that new leader 'is not going to last long' without his approval.

In Israel, the military reported the first soldier deaths since the war began, saying two were killed in southern Lebanon while Israel targets the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. Three people were injured in Israel in an afternoon strike.

The war, which Israel and the United States launched with airstrikes on Feb. 28 that killed Irans supreme leader, has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, at least 397 in Lebanon and at least 11 in Israel, according to officials. Six U.S. troops have been killed.

The conflict has rattled global markets, disrupted air travel and left Irans leadership weakened by several thousand Israeli and U.S. airstrikes.

Irans president toughens tone

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian backtracked from conciliatory comments a day earlier in which he apologized for attacks on Gulf neighbors soil. Iranian hard-liners had swiftly contradicted him, saying war strategy wouldnt change.

'The more pressure they impose on us, the stronger our response will naturally be,' Pezeshkian said Sunday. 'Our Iran, our country, will not bow easily in the face of bullying, oppression or aggression ' and it never has.'

Pezeshkian has urged neighboring states not to take part in U.S. and Israeli attacks.

The U.S. strikes have not come from the Gulf Arab governments but from U.S. bases and vessels in the region.

'The geography of some countries in the region ' both overtly and covertly ' is in the hands of the enemy, and those points are used against our country in acts of aggression. Intense attacks on these targets will continue,' judiciary chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejei wrote on X on Saturday.

Mohseni-Ejei and Pezeshkian are part of the three-member leadership council overseeing Iran since Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed.

Iran awaits the selection of a new supreme leader.

Desalination and oil facilities attacked

The Gulf nations of Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates also reported additional Iranian missiles launched toward them.

Bahrain accused Iran of indiscriminately attacking civilian targets and damaging one of its desalination plants, though its electricity and water authority said supplies remained online.

Desalination plants supply water to millions of residents in the region and thousands of stranded travelers, raising new fears of catastrophic risks in parched desert nations.

Home to the U.S. Navys Fifth Fleet, Bahrain also has seen hotels, ports and residential towers hit, with at least one person killed.

The desalination plant strike came after Iran said a U.S. airstrike damaged a desalination plant there. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the strike on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz had cut into the water supply to 30 villages.

He warned that in doing so 'the U.S. set this precedent, not Iran.'

In response, CENTCOM spokesperson U.S. Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins said that 'U.S. forces do not target civilians ' period.'

Iranian authorities also said Israels overnight strikes on four oil storage tankers and a petroleum transfer terminal killed four people. Witnesses in Tehran said the smoke was so thick that it looked as if the sun had not risen.

Israels military said the oil depots were being used by Irans military for fuel to launch missiles.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society said about 10,000 civilian structures across the country had been damaged, including homes, schools and almost three dozen health facilities. It also warned Tehran residents to take precautions against toxic air pollution and the risk of acid rain after Israels strikes.

Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the speaker of Irans parliament, said the wars impact on the oil industry would spiral, warning it soon could become harder to produce and sell oil. Some regional producers, including in Iraq, have curbed output amid dangers in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran maintains sufficient fuel, Veys Karami, managing director of the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company, told Irans state-run news agency.

Lebanon says a half-million people displaced

Lebanon said over a half-million people have been displaced in the week of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

The actual number is likely higher. Lebanons count of 517,000 refers to those who registered on the governments online portal. Israel over the past week has called on residents in dozens of villages across southern Lebanon and the entirety of Beiruts southern suburbs to evacuate as fighting intensifies.

Health Minister Rakan Nassereddine said 83 children and 82 women have been among those killed.

In Beirut, sheltering families crammed into schools, slept in cars or in open areas near the Mediterranean Sea, where some burned firewood to keep warm. The government said it would open a sports stadium to shelter thousands more.

Israels renewed offensive began last week after Hezbollah launched rockets toward northern Israel during the wars opening days. The strikes have been the most intense since a November 2024 ceasefire. Israel has continued near-daily strikes, primarily in southern Lebanon, saying Hezbollah had been trying to rebuild its positions there.

Hezbollah said last week that after more than a year of abiding by a ceasefire its patience has ended, leaving it with no option but to fight.

Metz reported from Ramallah, West Bank, Chehayeb from Beirut and Magdy from Cairo. Associated Press journalists Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel and Aamer Madhani in Doral, Florida, contributed reporting.

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5340975 2026-03-08T11:24:34+00:00 2026-03-08T17:01:00+00:00