Let’s start with two stories about the Kurds. “The Kurdish Ground Force Preparing to Fight in Iran,” Atlantic, 3-29-26.
Did Iran just violate Iraq territory and try to kill the Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani? Yes. “Turkey’s Foreign Minister Condemns Drone Attack on President Nechirvan Barzani Residence,” Kurdistan24, 3-29-26.
“Middle East leaders huddle in Pakistan as Trump weighs ground operations in Iran,” CNBC, 3-29-26.
Sorry A&M and NYU. “Iran threatens US campuses in Middle East,” Politico, 3-29-26.
“Iran warns U.S. against ground invasion, as Pakistan holds diplomatic talks,” NPR, 3-29-26.
Here’s a story about another Arab state that has been constantly under the gun from the Regime. Actually for years. “Army Says Iran Targeted Jordan With Missile, 2 Drones in past 24 hours,” Petra News, 3-29-26.
“How Iran is making a mint from Donald Trump’s war,” Economist, 3-29-26.
See “Photos show heavily damaged US radar jet at Saudi base,” BBC, 3-29-26. “Iran’s IRGC-linked Fars news agency said a Shahed drone had struck the E-3 aircraft.” This strike against the AWACS jet and multiple KC-135 tankers may represent the largest attack by Russia against U.S. planes in years. I say Russia, not just Iran, because Russia is providing the satellite targeting and a green light.
“Pentagon reportedly preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran,” Military Times, 3-29-26.
“Iran Update Special Report, March 29, 2026,” ISW, 3-29-26. Two notes. First, “Senior Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) officials continue to dismiss Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s concerns about Iran’s economic conditions amid Iran’s war with the United States and Israel. Anti-regime media reported on March 28 that there is a deepening rift between Pezeshkian and IRGC Commander Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi over the regime’s actions during the war and the war’s mounting economic and social costs, citing unspecified informed sources.” Second, “The Iranian regime appears to be appealing to nationalist sentiments to recruit members of the Iranian population to help the regime maintain internal security. The Wall Street Journal reported on March 29 that Iran has launched a recruitment campaign called “Janfada,” or “Sacrificing Life,” to recruit volunteers to fight US forces in the event of a US ground operation in Iran, citing a text message sent to Iranian mobile users.”
“Middle East realignment: Turkey, Egypt, and Pakistan are reshaping US-Iran relations – opinion,” JPost, 3-29-26.
This is the type of information that is not typically available on open sources. https://understandingwar.org/research/middle-east/iran-update-special-report-march-29-2026/“Analysis: Iran likely transferred highly enriched uranium to Isfahan before the June strikes,” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 3-29-26. “Le Monde has analyzed a previously unreported satellite image of the Iranian nuclear site at Isfahan, showing a large truck loaded with containers. … But the timing of the image, the type of load, and other indirect evidence suggest that Iran may have placed a significant quantity of highly enriched uranium—possibly all of its inventory—at the facility ahead of the June 2025 strikes by Israel and the United States against Iranian nuclear sites.”
The headline starts with “Iran” but should really read “Russia.” See “Iran strike on Saudi Arabia’s Sultan Airbase destroys key US Air Force platforms,” JPost, 3-29-26. At Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. “[D]amaged multiple aircraft and likely completely destroyed an E-3 Sentry aircraft. The attack some 60 miles south of the capital of Riyadh in the early hours of March 27 is said to have involved a coordinated precision barrage of at least one Iranian ballistic missile and several attack drones. According to reports, some 10 to 12 American service members were injured in the attack, with at least two in serious condition. The base, a major operating location for US Air Force platforms during the war, has been attacked several times since the beginning of Operation Epic Fury/Operation Roaring Lion. Earlier in the week, 14 others were wounded in an attack, and another missile strike on the base on March 1 killed one service member. … The loss of an E-3 Sentry AWACS carries strategic consequences far beyond the physical destruction of a single airframe, as it degrades the ability to detect incoming hostile threats and coordinate any retaliatory response. … Its radar provides 360-degree surveillance across a 250-mile radius, allowing it to detect aircraft, drones, and missile launches while simultaneously coordinating friendly forces. .. The US Air Force had around 30 E-3 Sentry aircraft, with Boeing having delivered the last one in 1992. But as the platform struggles to maintain readiness, the USAF has cut the fleet almost in half to 16 aircraft. Of those, six were sent to the Middle East ahead of the war. While the platform is nearing the end of its lifetime, it continues to serve as an airborne command post, linking fighters, bombers, and ground commanders into a unified operational picture throughout the region during the war. Operation Epic Fury has involved thousands of US and Israeli sorties across Iran and the wider region. Managing such a vast air campaign requires persistent airborne command and control, and the E-3 Sentry has been central to that effort. Its ability to track threats, direct aircraft, and maintain situational awareness makes it the backbone of coordinated air operations. … Iran is said to be receiving external intelligence support from allies like China and Russia for advanced surveillance capabilities to target key installations across the Gulf. The attack’s accuracy suggests that Iran had access to timely, high-quality intelligence about aircraft positions and operational patterns at Prince Sultan Air Base, which also houses F-15E Strike Eagles, F-35A Lightnings, F-16 Fighting Falcons, and more.”
This is not a blog about SArabia. But the below story highlights how dangerous SA thinks Iran is. “Iran War Draws Attention to U.S. Troop Presence in Saudi Arabia,” NYT, 3-29-26.
“The Iran war has given Trump his best hand against China — now he shouldn’t fold,” LWJ, 3-29-26.