A. Martinez

The State Department warns Americans across the Middle East to depart now.

I'm A. Martinez, that's Leila Fadl, and this is Up First from NPR News.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters the U.S.

attacked Iran because Israel was going to attack Iran and Iran would retaliate.

We went proactively in a defensive way to prevent them from inflicting higher damage.

He gave a briefing to Congress before they prepared a vote on a measure to curb the president's war powers.

The war in the Middle East continues to expand.

NPR's Daniel Estrin has been in Tel Aviv covering the war since it began this weekend.

Daniel, a few days in, what stage is everything in right now?

Now, President Trump spoke yesterday about maybe this lasting, what, four or five weeks or maybe even a little bit longer.

What's it looking like there?

I mean, what are people thinking about how long this might last?

And didn't President Trump just a few days ago tell people in Iran to stay sheltered, to not go out quite yet?

I do remember him saying that, right?

Yeah.

And then, of course, the war is also expanding all over the region.

That's NPR's Daniel Estrin in Tel Aviv.

Daniel, thanks.

You're welcome.

Reactions split along partisan lines.