[00:00] Frederick Moore: From Neural Newscast, I'm Frederick Moore.
[00:03] Hannah Whitmore: And I'm Hannah Whitmore.
[00:05] Hannah Whitmore: Today is March 28, 2026.
[00:09] Hannah Whitmore: Our lead story involves the expanding conflict in the Middle East.
[00:14] Hannah Whitmore: Frederick, you have the latest on the Houthi involvement.
[00:18] Frederick Moore: Yemen's Houthi rebels have officially entered the war against Israel.
[00:24] Frederick Moore: Early Saturday morning, they launched a ballistic missile toward Beersheba.
[00:30] Frederick Moore: This marks the first time the group has targeted Israeli territory since the conflict began.
[00:37] Frederick Moore: The Israeli military confirmed an interception near a nuclear research center.
[00:44] Frederick Moore: Simultaneously, a heavy barrage hit United States and Saudi forces at the Prince Sultan Air Base.
[00:53] Frederick Moore: 29 drones and six ballistic missiles were launched.
[00:58] Frederick Moore: More than two dozen United States service members have been wounded at the facility over the past week.
[01:05] Frederick Moore: Fifteen were injured in yesterday's strike alone.
[01:10] Frederick Moore: Five are in serious condition.
[01:12] Hannah Whitmore: The Prince Sultan Air Base sits roughly 60 miles from Riyadh.
[01:18] Hannah Whitmore: It is a critical hub for both American and Saudi personnel.
[01:23] Hannah Whitmore: This surge in Houthi activity threatens commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
[01:29] Hannah Whitmore: We have seen similar attacks disrupt a trillion dollars in annual trade.
[01:35] Hannah Whitmore: Military spokesperson Yaya Sarri says operations will continue until the offensive in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories ends.
[01:46] Hannah Whitmore: This complicates the United States Navy's mission.
[01:50] Hannah Whitmore: The aircraft carrier, United States S. Gerald R. Ford, is currently in Crete for repairs,
[01:58] Hannah Whitmore: leaving the Red Sea Corridor vulnerable.
[02:00] Frederick Moore: While the Houthis expand their operations, the United States is looking for an exit strategy.
[02:06] Frederick Moore: In France yesterday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with G7 foreign ministers.
[02:13] Frederick Moore: He stated that the United States expects operations against Iran to end in weeks, not months.
[02:20] Frederick Moore: Rubio believes the Iranian regime will be at its weakest point by then.
[02:25] Frederick Moore: Despite this timeline, the fighting remains intense.
[02:28] Frederick Moore: Israel struck two Iranian nuclear facilities on Friday.
[02:33] Frederick Moore: The Shaheed Kondab heavy water complex in Iraq and the Ardakan yellowcake plant in Yazd were both hit.
[02:40] Frederick Moore: Israeli officials say the Yazd strike severely damaged the processing of materials for uranium enrichment.
[02:48] Hannah Whitmore: Tehran claims there were no casualties or contamination, but the targeting of nuclear sites marks a clear escalation.
[02:58] Hannah Whitmore: Israel appears intent on degrading Iran's strategic capabilities before a potential ceasefire.
[03:07] Hannah Whitmore: Meanwhile, in Beirut, Israeli strikes killed two people yesterday.
[03:12] Hannah Whitmore: Iran remains defiant.
[03:14] Hannah Whitmore: The Revolutionary Guard Corps continues to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz.
[03:21] Hannah Whitmore: On Saturday, they reported turning back three container ships.
[03:25] Hannah Whitmore: They are enforcing a ban on any vessels linked to supporters of Israel or the United States.
[03:32] Hannah Whitmore: That is a vital distinction for the agricultural sector.
[03:36] Hannah Whitmore: The restriction of fertilizer components has threatened farming worldwide.
[03:41] Hannah Whitmore: If these shipments move, it may prevent a food crisis, even as oil prices fluctuate.
[03:48] Hannah Whitmore: However, the energy threat remains high.
[03:51] Hannah Whitmore: Iran's vice presidents warned that a ground invasion would push oil to at least $150 per barrel.
[03:59] Hannah Whitmore: They also threatened the port of Yon-Bu and the Fujiraya oil complex.
[04:05] Hannah Whitmore: President Trump has issued an ultimatum.
[04:07] Hannah Whitmore: He stated that if free passage is not restored by April 6th, he will order the destruction of Iran's energy infrastructure.
[04:16] Frederick Moore: The White House currently maintains that negotiations remain possible,
[04:21] Frederick Moore: despite Tehran's denials.
[04:24] Frederick Moore: The coming days will determine if the United States initiates a military effort
[04:28] Frederick Moore: to reopen the waterway.
[04:31] Frederick Moore: From Neural Newscast, I'm Frederick Moore.
[04:34] Hannah Whitmore: And I'm Hannah Whitmore.
[04:36] Hannah Whitmore: Neural Newscast is AI-assisted, human-reviewed.
[04:40] Hannah Whitmore: View our AI transparency policy at neuralnewscast.com.