March 28, 2026
Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for a missile attack on Israel on Saturday morning — their first since the US and Israel struck Iran four weeks ago. A Houthi military spokesman said the launch was part of a barrage against Israel and vowed continued operations in response to what the group called “aggression” across several fronts. Israel’s military said it intercepted the missile.
The Houthi claim came amid a wider round of strikes and interceptions across the Middle East early Saturday:
– The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defense said its forces were intercepting cruise missiles and UAVs fired from Iran.
– Explosions were reported in and around Damascus as Israeli air defenses intercepted Iranian missiles over Syrian airspace.
– Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said a fire at a facility targeted by Iran was extinguished.
– Iran-launched strikes on Israel late Friday killed one person and wounded several others, according to Israeli reports.
– Israel said it launched strikes on Iranian “regime targets” early Saturday.
Iranian authorities and proxies continued to escalate the campaign after weeks of US‑Israel attacks on Iranian infrastructure. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it had “destroyed” a “Ukrainian anti-drone system depot” in Dubai, saying the facility had been assisting the US military. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry denied the claim. The IRGC statement, carried by state media, could not be independently verified.
Regional damage and injuries were reported across Gulf states. Kuwait’s civil aviation authority said the radar system at the country’s main international airport sustained “significant” damage in several drone attacks; there were no reported casualties. Oman reported two drones hit the major southern port of Salalah, wounding a foreign worker and causing limited damage to a crane. The UAE said five Indian nationals in Abu Dhabi were injured by falling debris after air defenses intercepted a ballistic missile; injuries ranged from minor to moderate.
An Iranian strike on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia injured 12 US service members, two seriously, sources told news outlets. The attack damaged KC‑135 aerial refueling aircraft. The base has been targeted previously in the conflict. US officials say more than 300 US troops have been wounded since the war began on February 28; 273 had returned to duty, the military said.
The conflict’s economic ripple effects continued. Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and related attacks have disrupted shipping and affected global oil markets. Analysts cited early estimates that Iranian strikes had caused around $800 million in damage to key US military installations in the region during the first two weeks of the war.
Diplomacy and mediation efforts were underway. Pakistani officials said foreign ministers from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt would meet in Islamabad to discuss de‑escalation and regional security. Pakistan has been acting as an intermediary between Tehran and Washington, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian as part of preparations. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said he expected a direct US‑Iran meeting in Pakistan “very soon.”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned neighboring countries not to allow US forces to use their territory to launch attacks on Iran, saying Tehran would retaliate strongly if its infrastructure or economic centers were targeted. Pezeshkian reiterated that Iran does not carry out preemptive attacks but will respond to strikes.
US President Donald Trump criticized German leaders for not backing a mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz, repeating remarks that the conflict was not “their” war and questioning allied burden‑sharing. German officials said there was no disagreement with Washington on current requests for military support.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the UAE and announced cooperation with the Emiratis on security and defense, including anti‑drone measures. Zelenskyy said Ukraine had developed systems and integration experience to intercept enemy drones and missiles after four years of nearly daily attacks on Ukrainian cities during Russia’s full‑scale invasion. He offered Ukraine’s expertise to partners facing Iranian drone threats.
The situation remains fluid. US envoys said talks with Iran could take place soon via Pakistan; separate reports noted the US had transmitted a 15‑point ceasefire proposal through intermediaries. Despite diplomatic signals, military exchanges and airstrikes continued, and Iranian officials warned of heavy reprisals for attacks on the country’s industrial and nuclear infrastructure.
