• Written by Editorial Team
• March 28, 2026
• 6 minutes

The Iran War Enters a New Phase

Houthis, Hezbollah & Iran’s Axis of Resistance Escalate the Iran War — Global Trade and U.S. Bases Under Threat

By AI TV INFO | Special Report Middle East Desk— March 28, 2026

As the Iran war enters its second month, March 28, 2026, the Axis of Resistance has escalated its coordination, opening new fronts and increasing the intensity of attacks across the Middle East. Today, we break down the key developments, military movements, and strategic implications for the global balance of power.

1️⃣ The Houthis Join the War: A Southern Front in Yemen

March 28, 2026 marks the official entry of the Houthi movement (Ansar Allah) into the conflict.

• The Attack: Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree confirmed a “barrage of ballistic missiles” targeting “sensitive military sites” in southern Israel.
• Interceptions: Israel Defense Forces (IDF) successfully intercepted several projectiles using Arrow and David’s Sling systems. Sirens were triggered nationwide, including near the Dimona nuclear facility.
• Strategic Goal: Analysts describe this as a “signal strike,” demonstrating the Houthis’ capacity to reach Israel from over 1,000 miles away and forcing Israel to maintain heightened alert across its entire territory.
• Red Sea Threat: The Houthis warned that any vessel—military or commercial—using the Red Sea for hostile operations against Iran may be targeted. This raises the specter of a shipping crisis similar to 2024, potentially diverting global trade around Africa.

Weapons and Tactics:

• Burkan-3 & Toufan missiles: Long-range ballistic missiles capable of striking southern Israel.
• Quds-4 cruise missiles: Designed to fly at low altitude to evade air defenses.
• Sammad-3 “suicide” drones: Used in swarms to saturate Israeli interceptors.

Impact: The Houthis are a “small but high-impact” force, capable of disrupting trade and opening new fronts but limited in conventional military power.

2️⃣ Iraq: The Grey Zone Escalates

Iraq remains a major theater where U.S. forces and Iran-backed militias (Popular Mobilization Forces, PMF) engage in daily attrition.

• Volume of Attacks: Over 500 attacks since February 28, 2026.
• Key Targets:
  • U.S. Embassy & Erbil: Drone and rocket fire prompted an “ordered departure” of non-essential staff.
  • Prince Sultan Air Base (Saudi Arabia): Over two dozen U.S. troops wounded due to Iraqi-based drone strikes.
  • Kurdish Peshmerga: Iranian missiles struck bases in the Soran highlands on March 24, killing six Kurdish security personnel.

U.S. and Israeli Response:

• Expanding airstrikes target PMF leadership and infrastructure in Mosul and Anbar.
• Iraqi government authorization for PMF retaliation escalates the conflict, blurring sovereignty lines.

Summary of Resistance Activity in Iraq:

3️⃣ U.S. Bases Under Siege

Leaked reports and satellite imagery reveal severe degradation of U.S. regional force posture:

• Prince Sultan AB (Saudi Arabia): March 27 strike wounded 12 U.S. personnel; critical AWACS and refueling tankers damaged.
• Al-Udeid (Qatar) & Al-Dhafra (UAE): Hangars destroyed; personnel relocated to civilian hotels.
• 13 Primary Bases: Many rendered “all but uninhabitable” with over $800 million in damage in the first two weeks.

Escalation in Iraq and Oman:

• Habbaniyah Base (Iraq): March 26 airstrike killed seven Iraqi personnel.
• Port of Salalah (Oman): Iran targeted a U.S. support vessel, signaling expansion into the Indian Ocean.

4️⃣ Naval Buildup & Countermeasures

The U.S. Navy maintains its largest Middle East presence in decades: three aircraft carrier strike groups plus amphibious units.

• USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72): Arabian Sea; strikes against southern Iran.
• USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78): Souda Bay, Crete; electronic warfare and air superiority.
• USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77): En route to Middle East for relief and Red Sea security.
• ARG Tripoli & 31st Marine MEU: Protecting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Key Threat: “Saturation attacks” by Iran and Houthis could overwhelm U.S. missile defenses.

5️⃣ The Axis of Resistance: History & Strategy

The Axis of Resistance is a coordinated network of state and non-state actors led by Iran, explicitly oriented against the West—most notably the United States (“the Great Satan”) and Israel (“the Little Satan”). Its origins date back to the 1979 Iranian Revolution, when Iran adopted a doctrine of exporting its revolution and confronting Western influence across the Middle East.

Key Historical Milestones:

• Ideological Foundations (1979–1980s):
  • Iran’s revolutionary leadership, under Ayatollah Khomeini, promoted the “solidarity of the oppressed” and vowed opposition to U.S. and Israeli influence.
  • Early support linked Iran to allied movements abroad, including Lebanon’s emerging Hezbollah, Iraq’s Islamic Dawa Party, and other Shia militias.
• Hezbollah Formation (1982):
  • Established as Iran’s primary proxy to confront Israel in Lebanon.
  • Hezbollah’s loyalty to Iran set the model for subsequent proxy networks.
• Expansion & Naming (2000s):
  • The term “Axis of Resistance” emerged as a direct counter to President George W. Bush’s 2002 “Axis of Evil” speech.
  • Iraq’s 2003 invasion created a vacuum filled by Iran-backed militias, formalizing the multi-front network.
• Later Additions (2010s–2020s):
  • Houthis in Yemen, Hamas, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad were integrated for coordinated operations against U.S. and Israeli targets.
  • Under Qasem Soleimani, the Axis adopted a “unity of fronts” strategy: coordinated multi-theater operations designed to deter Israel and the U.S. while preserving plausible deniability.

Strategic Purpose:

• Serve Iran’s doctrine of forward defense, confronting the “Great Satan” and the “Little Satan” indirectly.
• Use proxies to escalate conflicts across multiple fronts while avoiding direct Iranian casualties.
• Maintain influence and pressure across the region through hybrid warfare, maritime threats, and missile/drones attacks.

Big Picture: The Axis is both ideological—driven by post-revolutionary anti-Western objectives—and pragmatic, mixing Shia ideology with opportunistic alliances to project power, disrupt Western interests, and complicate U.S./Israeli military operations.

6️⃣ Active Resistance Groups (March 28, 2026)

1. Hezbollah (Lebanon):
   • Most active frontline actor.
   • Daily strikes in northern Israel; heavily targeted by Israeli airstrikes.
2. Iraqi Shiite Militias (PMF/IRI):
   • Hundreds of attacks on U.S. bases and regional targets.
   • Integrated into Iraq’s security but retain Iranian ties.
3. Houthis (Yemen):
   • Just entered kinetic operations.
   • Threatens Israel and Red Sea shipping.
4. Palestinian Groups (Hamas, PIJ):
   • Politically supportive but militarily limited.
5. Minor / Proxy Actors:
   • Syrian militias, Afghan Fatemiyoun, Pakistani Zainabiyoun, others provide logistical or deniable support.

Overall: The Axis is operationally active but fragmented and weaker than pre-2023. Autonomy among proxies creates a fluid, unpredictable battlefield.

 Bottom Line

• The Houthis’ entry adds a southern front and threatens global trade.
• Iraq remains a grey zone where Iran-backed militias challenge U.S. forces daily.
• U.S. bases are under strain; naval forces are repositioned to counter missile and drone saturation attacks.
• The Axis of Resistance remains Iran’s strategic lever, escalating horizontally to pressure the U.S. and Israel while maintaining plausible deniability.

Key Question: Can the U.S. maintain control in the Middle East without wider escalation, or will the Axis’s multi-front strategy force a strategic recalibration?

Stay tuned to AI TV INFO for live updates and expert analysis as this conflict continues to unfold.

Stay tuned for our next special report.

💬Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

🧠📺 AI TV INFO’s Channel Is Rewriting the economic narrative.

📣Follow and subscribe to AI TV INFO for balanced reporting, deeper analysis, and forward-looking global stories that go beyond the headlines.

📢 PRESS CONTACT

Click➡️ Editorial team

© AI TV INFO | Global Economics
Data compiled from several institutions, and historical economic records. Interpretive analysis by AI TV INFO´s channel.

AI TV INFO is not an investment advisor, broker, or dealer.
The information presented in this report is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, a recommendation, or an offer to buy or sell any securities or financial instruments.

All investing involves risk, in both developed and emerging markets. Regional political, economic, regulatory, and currency factors should be carefully considered.

To invest responsibly in these markets, it is recommended to identify a trustworthy partner with aligned long-term interests, who is successfully active on the ground in these regions and who does not rely on commissions or product sales for compensation. Independent alignment, local expertise, and transparency are critical when navigating opportunities in the Global South.