An Iranian attack on a base in Saudi Arabia has injured at least 12 American soldiers, two of them seriously, US media reported.

Iran has continued retaliatory strikes against Gulf nations, accusing them of serving as launching pads for US attacks against the country, which began with a joint operation with Israel on February 28. The attack on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia involved at least one missile and several drones, according to reports by the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, citing unidentified sources. The soldiers were inside a building at the base at the time of the attack.

Several aerial refueling aircraft were also reportedly damaged in the attack. Saudi Arabia had previously intercepted several missiles launched near the base. Thirteen U.S. service members have been killed since the start of the conflict with Iran, seven in the Gulf and six in Iraq. Over 300 have been injured.

It was yet another night of cross-fire, with Israel hitting regime targets in Iran and Tehran continuing its retaliatory strikes, also launching missiles at the Emirates.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon is considering deploying an additional 10,000 troops to the Middle East. If it were to proceed, the United States could soon find itself with 17,000 troops in the region: not enough for an invasion, but enough to seize territory, secure Iranian uranium, and take control of one of Tehran's islands. The Wall Street Journal reports, noting that Donald Trump has not ordered the deployment of ground troops, preferring diplomatic channels for the time being.

The news of March 28th

10:40 am – A raid hits Tehran University during the night.

The buildings of the University of Science and Technology in Iran were damaged in airstrikes that occurred overnight between Saturday and Sunday, Iran International reports, showing a video. Yesterday, local Iranian authorities reported that at least 26 civilians, including women and children, were killed in an airstrike in Isfahan, the deputy governor of the province reported, as NBC reported.

10:00 a.m. – Iraqi Kurdistan: A strong explosion was heard near Erbil airport.

A loud explosion was heard today near Erbil International Airport, the capital of the autonomous Kurdistan Region in northern Iraq, where US advisers to the international anti-jihadist coalition are based. A journalist on the scene witnessed the explosion. According to a witness, a plume of smoke was visible in the sky near the airport. Coalition troops stationed there are regularly targeted by pro-Iranian armed groups, using explosive-laden drones that are usually intercepted and shot down by air defense forces.

9:15 a.m. – Pakistan, Egypt, Türkiye, and Saudi Arabia meet in Islamabad on Monday to discuss the war

A senior Foreign Ministry official in Islamabad told AFP that Pakistan plans to "host a quadrilateral meeting on Monday" with Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey on the Middle East war. According to the official, who asked to remain anonymous, the delegations are expected to arrive in Pakistan by Sunday evening, but their exact composition has not yet been confirmed.

8:30 a.m. – Yemen's Houthis claim first attack against Israel

Yemen's Houthis have claimed responsibility for their first attack against Israel since the start of the Middle East war.

7:30 a.m. – Thailand: "Agreement with Iran on Hormuz"

Thailand announced it had reached an agreement with Iran to allow its oil tankers to pass through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which has been virtually paralyzed since the outbreak of the Middle East war. "An agreement has been reached to allow Thai oil tankers to safely transit the Strait of Hormuz, helping to alleviate concerns about Thailand's fuel supply," Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said at a press conference.

7:20 AM – First missile from Yemen towards Israel

The Israeli military said it detected a missile launch from Yemen. This is the first such incident in a month of war in the Middle East, after Tehran-backed Houthi rebels threatened to enter the conflict. Israeli forces "identified a missile launch from Yemen toward Israeli territory; air defense systems are deployed to intercept this threat," the military stated on Telegram.

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement, whose attacks on the Red Sea wreaked havoc on international shipping and trade during the Gaza war, is poised to strike this key waterway again in solidarity with Tehran. Reuters reports this on its website, citing a Houthi leader. This move, Reuters writes, would further exacerbate the global oil and economic crisis triggered by the Middle East war. If the Houthis were to open a new front in the conflict, an obvious target would be the Bab al-Mandab Strait off the coast of Yemen, a crucial chokepoint for shipping and a narrow passage controlling maritime traffic to the Suez Canal, after Iran effectively closed the vital Strait of Hormuz.

7:00 AM – New attack on the Bushehr nuclear power plant

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it had been informed by Iran of a new attack near the Bushehr nuclear power plant, the third such incident in 10 days. Tehran informed the agency that there was no damage to the operating reactor and no radiation leak, and that the plant was operating normally, the IAEA said. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi warned that any attack that damaged a reactor could trigger a serious radiation accident, urging "maximum military restraint."

(Unioneonline)

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