On 28 March, the Iran-backed Houthi rebel group in Yemen entered the conflict by launching a ballistic missile at Israel and two drones the following day. This follows threats made by the group the previous day. It likely serves as a warning to Israel and the Gulf states that they have the capability to inflict damage should things escalate with Iran.
There were multiple diplomatic developments over the weekend. Spain’s military said it had closed its airspace to U.S. military flights assisting in the war against Iran while Pakistan hosted meetings involving Saudi, Turkish, Egyptian, and Pakistani officials. President Donald Trump said that “great progress” had been made in talks with a “new” Iranian government; however, he also said in a Financial Times interview that his preference would be to "take the oil in Iran." These comments come amid ongoing troop deployments to the region. President Trump also said, "Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don't." While rhetoric around negotiations appears positive, troop buildup and active threats to Iran on social media indicate further escalation is likely.
In addition to ground operations seizing and occupying Kharg Island, The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the administration is considering a complex operation to extract nearly 1,000 pounds of Iran's enriched uranium that could be used to make nuclear weapons. Iran giving up its nuclear program and handing over its highly enriched uranium are key requirements for ending the conflict according to President Trump.
Meanwhile, the Gulf states continued to report interception activity from Iranian attacks. In Kuwait, a power and desalination plant was damaged with repair work underway. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan all said they intercepted missiles and drones over the last several days, with Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa Industrial Zone reporting multiple fires on 28 March. Qatar experienced multiple Iranian drone incursions over the weekend, the first after a multi-day pause in targeting by Iran.
Situation Report
- 30 March: Fire breaks out at Bazan oil refinery in the Haifa area of northern Israel after a joint Hezbollah-Iran attack.
- 30 March: In an early-morning Truth Social post, President Trump claimed the United States of America is in serious discussions with "A NEW, AND MORE REASONABLE, REGIME" in Iran and that "great progress" has been made. He went on to warn that if a deal is not reached "shortly," the U.S. will act by "completely obliterating" Iran's power plants, oil wells, and "possibly all desalinization plants!"
- 29 March: The IRGC threatened to attack U.S. universities across the Middle East if the United States did not issue an official condemnation of airstrikes targeting two Iranian universities by 12:00 Tehran time (09:30 GMT) on 30 March.
- 28 March: A dozen U.S. troops were injured, multiple KC-135s and one E-3G Sentry AWACS were destroyed in strikes on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.
- 28 March: U.S. CENTCOM reported that 3,500 troops from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) had arrived in the Middle East on board the USS Tripoli.
- 28 March: Pakistan said Iran agreed to let 20 Pakistan-flagged vessels sail through the Strait of Hormuz (two ships/day).
Airspace Status
- Bahrain: airspace closed
- Cyprus: airspace open
- Egypt: airspace open
- Iran: airspace closed
- Iraq: airspace closed
- Israel: airspace partially open/restricted
- Israel's wartime restrictions on the country's airspace are expected to remain in place through 16 April, subject to security developments.
- Jordan: airspace open
- Kuwait: airspace closed
- Lebanon: airspace partially open/restricted
- Oman: airspace open
- Qatar: airspace partially closed/restricted
- Qatar Airways is preparing to operate 60 confirmed flights on 30 March, with a limited network of 93 destinations planned through 15 April 2026.
- Saudi Arabia: airspace open
- Syria: airspace heavily restricted
- UAE: airspace open
- Experiencing significant disruptions, flight rerouting, and potential for short notice closured due to the conflict and missile threats.
STANDING BY TO Support
Global Guardian is closely monitoring the situation and can support clients who need assistance with the following:
- Evacuation planning and execution
- Executive protection
- Secure transportation
- Emergency response
- Intelligence reports
- Risk assessments
Click below to contact Global Guardian's 24/7 Operations Center or call us directly at +1 (703) 566-9463.
