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Day 29: Houthis Enter the War, Conflict Expands Beyond Iran
By Le Pivot — Iran Monitor · March 27, 2026 · 10 min read
Day twenty-nine of the war. The US-Israeli conflict against Iran crosses a new threshold with Yemen’s Houthi rebels — Tehran’s allies — launching their first barrage of ballistic missiles at Israel. Meanwhile, an Iranian strike wounds at least 15 American soldiers at a base in Saudi Arabia, while bombing continues to hit Iranian civilian infrastructure. Oil prices reach their highest level in three years, confirming the scale of the global energy crisis.
Houthis Open a New Front
Brigadier-General Yahya Saree, the Houthi military spokesperson, announced Saturday that the rebels had fired a barrage of ballistic missiles targeting “sensitive military sites” in southern Israel. The Israeli military confirmed intercepting at least one missile. The attack marks the official entry of the Houthis — who have controlled Yemen’s capital Sanaa since 2014 — into the conflict, after weeks of veiled threats.
The escalation was foreseeable: the day before, Saree had issued an ambiguous statement suggesting the rebels would join the fight if attacks on Iran continued. For analysts, the Houthis’ entry into the war significantly complicates Washington’s strategic calculations, already stretched across a theatre of operations spanning from the Persian Gulf to the eastern Mediterranean.
Fifteen US Soldiers Wounded in Saudi Arabia
An Iranian strike hit a Saudi air base hosting American troops, wounding at least 15 service members according to the Pentagon. The incident highlights the vulnerability of US forces deployed in the region and raises questions about the adequacy of missile defense systems in place.
The attack comes as the United States continues to bolster its military presence in the Middle East: the deployment of 3,000 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division, announced the previous day, continues. The American military footprint in the region has reached its highest level since the conflict began.
Strikes Target Nuclear and Civilian Infrastructure
US-Israeli forces intensified their bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities. The Shahid Khondab Heavy Water Complex in Arak and the Ardakan yellowcake production plant in Yazd Province were confirmed damaged by Israeli strikes. These targets are at the core of Iran’s nuclear program.
On the civilian side, overnight strikes hit the Iran University of Science and Technology in Tehran and a 10,000-cubic-meter water reservoir in Haftkel, Khuzestan. At least 12 civilians were killed in residential areas, bringing the total death toll to over 1,900 Iranians since the conflict began, according to the Iranian Red Crescent.
Energy Crisis Deepens
Brent crude surged to $112.57 per barrel, up more than 55% since the conflict began. US crude (WTI) settled at $99.64, its highest level in three years. The Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of the world’s oil supply transits, remains virtually closed to commercial traffic.
According to CNBC analysts, between 4.5 and 5 million barrels per day have been lost due to the war — roughly 5% of global supply. That figure could double by mid-April if the strait is not reopened, which would constitute the largest crude supply disruption in history. Between 1,900 and 2,500 vessels are currently stranded in the Persian Gulf.
Geopolitical Context
One month into hostilities, the conflict shows no signs of abating. The Houthis’ entry marks a regionalization of the conflict that Washington sought to avoid. Pakistan, which had positioned itself as a mediator by relaying American demands to Tehran, sees its diplomatic efforts undermined by the continuing military escalation.
For European observers, the situation recalls the escalation dynamics seen in past conflicts, where the growing number of belligerents makes any diplomatic resolution exponentially more complex. The G7, meeting in France the previous day, failed to reach a consensus on the way forward.
Key Takeaways
The Houthis’ entry into the war from Yemen opens a new front and confirms the regionalization of the conflict. US-Israeli strikes continue to target Iranian nuclear facilities and civilian infrastructure, with a death toll exceeding 1,900. The wounding of 15 American soldiers in Saudi Arabia demonstrates that US forces are not immune to Iranian retaliation. The oil crisis is worsening with Brent above $112, and experts warn the situation could deteriorate drastically if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed beyond mid-April.