Morning Briefing: April 3, 2026
Anadolu’s recap of top stories from around the globe
ISTANBUL
Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Friday, including US President Donald Trump signaling further strikes on critical infrastructure in Iran, Iranian missiles hitting nine sites across Israeli capital Tel Aviv, and UN experts condemning Israel's death penalty law against Palestinian prisoners and urging immediate appeal.
TOP STORIES
US President Donald Trump signaled Thursday that further strikes on critical infrastructure in Iran could be imminent.
"Our Military, the greatest and most powerful (by far!) anywhere in the World, hasn’t even started destroying what’s left in Iran.
"Bridges next, then Electric Power Plants! New Regime leadership knows what has to be done, and has to be done, fast!" Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.
An Iranian missile attack struck nine sites across the greater Tel Aviv area early Friday, damaging a train station and a building, according to Israeli media.
The Israeli public broadcaster KAN said Tel Aviv Savidor Central railway station suffered damage, while the Haaretz newspaper reported that debris from the Iranian missiles fell in nine locations across greater Tel Aviv.
Israel’s Channel 12 said one person was injured after debris struck several sites in central Israel.
UN experts on Thursday condemned a new Israeli law enabling the death penalty against Palestinians, warning it constitutes a discriminatory system that violates international human rights law.
"Israel’s new law, effectively providing for the death penalty solely against Palestinians, constitutes a discriminatory regime of capital punishment and manifestly violates Israel’s obligations under international human rights law," the experts said in a statement.
"We condemn the Knesset’s adoption of this law and call for its immediate repeal," they said. "This law marks a grave escalation in Israel’s discriminatory oppression of Palestinians."
NEWS IN BRIEF
French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday denounced Washington's criticism for not getting help on Iran, stressing that it is not their operation.
More than 30 countries are set to meet at a UK-hosted virtual summit on Thursday to discuss plans to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane.
China said Thursday the “root cause” of disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz is the “illegal” joint US-Israeli military operation against Iran, urging de-escalation to safeguard global shipping.
The UN relief chief warned of a possible “occupation” in southern Lebanon as he said 200,000 refugees and displaced people have fled from Lebanon to Syria in recent weeks amid Israeli attacks.
The chairman of Sudan’s Sovereignty Council on Thursday appointed Gen. Yasser al-Atta the new chief of staff of the Sudanese army.
The UK will convene a meeting of military planners next week to discuss "viable options" to make the Strait of Hormuz "safe for navigation," its Defense Ministry said Thursday.
The US and its NATO allies will conduct a series of military exercises across the High North, Baltic region and Poland starting this month to strengthen the alliance’s deterrence posture in the region, US Army Europe and Africa announced Thursday.
Austria has denied the US permission to use its airspace for military operations against Iran, citing the country’s neutrality law, the Defense Ministry said.
The Pentagon announced Thursday that Gen. Randy A. George will retire from his role as the 41st Chief of Staff of the Army "effective immediately."
US President Donald Trump announced the removal of Pam Bondi as attorney general, the nation's chief law enforcement officer.
The Israeli army claimed that it killed the head of missile forces in Iran’s Kermanshah province in an airstrike.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban warned that Europe is heading toward a severe economic crisis and urged the immediate lifting of sanctions on Russian energy.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
- Gold prices retreat after 4-day rally as Trump signals harsher Iran stance
Gold prices fell on Thursday, ending a four-session winning streak, after US President Donald Trump signaled a tougher military stance against Iran.
Spot gold was down 2.7% at $4,631.25 per ounce as of 0810 GMT, after rising as high as $4,800 earlier in the session. US gold futures also declined 3.1% to $4,664.15 per ounce.
The decline came as investors reacted to Trump’s remarks that Washington would intensify military operations against Iran over the next “two to three weeks,” while reiterating that the US would not allow Tehran to obtain nuclear weapons.
- Silver drops over 5% as Trump escalation remarks hit precious metals
Silver prices fell sharply on Thursday after US President Donald Trump signaled an escalation in the Iran conflict, triggering a broad sell-off across precious metals.
Spot silver dropped 5.1% to $71.26 per ounce as of 0915 GMT.
The decline followed Trump’s televised remarks that the United States would hit Iran “extremely hard” over the next two to three weeks, dampening expectations for a near-term easing of tensions and prompting a repricing across global markets.
