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NAIJA NEWS FEEDS International Desk · Special Report Day 29
UPDATED Sunday 29 March 2026 · Day 29 of the Conflict
The Strait
of Fire
of Fire
Houthis enter the war. Trump extends his deadline. Pakistan mediates as Islamabad hosts a four-nation summit. The conflict enters its second month — and just became a two-chokepoint crisis.
Total killed
3,000+
Iran, Lebanon, region
Brent crude
$101–110
Volatile. Peak: $126
Ships/day thru Hormuz
6 or fewer
Was 130/day pre-war
Trump deadline
April 6
Extended 10 more days
US troops wounded
300+
13 killed (confirmed)
US targets hit in Iran
11,000+
CENTCOM confirmed
Iran internet access
~1%
29 days digital blackout
New front opened
Yemen (Day 29)
Houthis fire at Israel
Brent Crude
$101
▲ volatile $97–$110
WTI Crude
$98
▲ Post-Houthi spike
Hormuz traffic
~6/day
Was 130/day pre-war
IEA reserve release
400M
barrels released
Day 29 — Top Development
New Today
HOUTHIS ENTER THE WAR — TWO-CHOKEPOINT CRISIS NOW LIVE Day 29 · New Front
Houthi Rebels Fire Two Missiles at Israel from Yemen — Both Intercepted. Bab al-Mandab Now at Risk.
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels entered the monthlong war on Saturday, claiming two ballistic missile launches at Israel for the first time in the conflict. Hours apart, both were intercepted — the first targeting Beersheba in southern Israel, a second cruise missile intercepted shortly after. This marks a seismic escalation: the conflict has now opened a second chokepoint risk. The Houthis previously disrupted the Bab al-Mandab Strait between 2023 and 2025, through which about 12% of global trade passes. Their re-entry could trap global shipping in a vice — with Hormuz closed to the east and Bab al-Mandab threatened to the west. The IEA has called this the “greatest global energy and food security challenge in history.” Like a river being dammed at both ends, the world’s oil supply lines are being squeezed from two directions simultaneously.
About 2,500 US Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived in the Middle East on the same day. Pakistan’s government said Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt are sending top diplomats to Islamabad today (Sunday 29 March) for a two-day summit aimed at ending the war.
TRUMP EXTENDS HORMUZ DEADLINE TO APRIL 6 — IRAN ALLOWS 20 PAKISTANI SHIPS Day 28–29 · Diplomacy
Trump Pauses Power-Plant Strikes by 10 More Days — New Deadline: Monday April 6, 8pm ET
Trump posted on Truth Social: “As per the Iranian government’s request, I am pausing the period of energy plant destruction by 10 days to Monday, April 6, 2026, at 8pm ET. Talks are going very well.” Iran denied initiating any request and called Trump “deceitful.” Iran’s Foreign Minister Araghchi acknowledged exchanges of messages through intermediaries but insisted they were not formal negotiations. In a dramatic gesture, Iran agreed to allow 20 Pakistani-flagged ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz — two per day — which Trump called Iran’s “present” to prove its seriousness. Trump also revealed the gesture at a Cabinet meeting: “I said, ‘Well, I guess we’re dealing with the right people.'”
Iran has also countered the US 15-point ceasefire plan with five conditions of its own: end to all strikes, concrete guarantees against future war, war reparations, comprehensive ceasefire including Lebanon, and recognition of Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.
Full Conflict Timeline — Days 1–29
28 Feb 2026 · Day 1
Operation Epic Fury — US & Israel Strike Iran
900+ sites hit. Supreme Leader Khamenei killed along with family members. Brent jumps 8%. Iran declares 40 days of mourning.
1 Mar 2026 · Day 2
IRGC Closes Strait of Hormuz — “Forbidden Combat Zone”
Tanker traffic collapses 70% within hours. 150+ ships anchor in Gulf of Oman. QatarEnergy declares force majeure on LNG.
5 Mar 2026 · Day 6
Hormuz Narrowed — Only US/Israel/Allies Blocked
IRGC narrows blockade. Iranian and Chinese ships move. Iraq shuts oil fields. Blockade still devastates global markets.
8 Mar 2026 · Day 9
Mojtaba Khamenei Named New Supreme Leader — Brent Hits $126
IRGC elects Khamenei’s son as leader. Hundreds of thousands rally in Tehran. Brent peaks at $126/bbl.
13–14 Mar 2026 · Day 14
US Bombs Kharg Island — Iran’s Oil Crown Jewel
90+ military targets struck. Oil infrastructure spared — for now. Dubai airport briefly evacuated. Saudi Arabia intercepts 35 drones. IEA releases 400 million barrels.
16 Mar 2026 · Day 17
First Non-Iranian Cargo Transits Strait — Coalition Forms
Aframax tanker Karachi makes symbolic passage. US confirms multi-nation tanker escort coalition forming. Israel kills IRGC Basij commander.
18–19 Mar 2026 · Day 19
Iran Strikes Israel’s Dimona Nuclear Site — 22 Nations Condemn Iran
First strike on Israel’s nuclear research facility. 100+ Israelis injured. 22 nations jointly condemn Hormuz blockade. Lebanon expels Iran’s ambassador.
22 Mar 2026 · Day 23
Trump Threatens to “Obliterate” Iran’s Power Plants — Iran Vows to Mine Gulf
48-hour ultimatum issued. IRGC threatens to mine Gulf sea lanes. Philippines declares national energy emergency. Israel raises mobilisation to 400,000 reserve soldiers.
23 Mar 2026 · Day 24
Trump Reverses Ultimatum — Grants 5-Day Pause
Oil collapses 13% intraday. Dow surges 1,076 pts. $580M in bets on falling oil placed 15 minutes before Trump announcement — insider trading probe launched.
24–25 Mar 2026 · Day 25
US Sends 15-Point Peace Plan via Pakistan — Iran Rejects It
Iran’s military: “Don’t dress your defeat as an agreement.” Iran counter-proposes five conditions including recognition of sovereignty over Hormuz. Pakistan offers to host formal talks.
26–27 Mar 2026 · Days 26–28
IRGC Navy Chief Killed. Iran Strikes Saudi Air Base — 15 US Troops Wounded.
Israel kills IRGC Navy Commander Alireza Tangsiri. Iran strikes Prince Sultan Air Base — 15 US troops injured, five critically. Iran blocks Chinese ships; begins charging tolls at Hormuz. Trump extends deadline to April 6.
NEW 28–29 Mar 2026 · Days 28–29
Houthis Enter War — Two-Chokepoint Crisis. Islamabad Summit Today.
Houthis fire two missiles at Israel — both intercepted. 2,500 US Marines arrive in region. Iran allows 20 Pakistani ships through Hormuz. IRGC threatens university campuses in Gulf. Heavy strikes reported across Tehran overnight Saturday. Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt diplomats arrive in Islamabad today for peace talks. Total killed: 3,000+. US has struck 11,000+ targets in Iran. Trump new deadline: April 6.
More Day 29 Developments
1
Houthis / Yemen
IRGC Threatens to Strike US & Israeli University Campuses in Gulf by Monday Noon
In retaliation for strikes on Iran’s universities — including severe damage to the Iran University of Science and Technology — the IRGC declared American and Israeli-affiliated universities across the Gulf to be “legitimate targets” unless two Iranian institutions are struck back. The noon deadline falls on Monday 30 March (Tehran time), directly threatening campuses in Qatar, UAE and Kuwait. Several universities are reportedly beginning evacuation contingency planning.
2
Diplomacy
Islamabad Summit — Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt Meet Today to Push Ceasefire
Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif held a one-hour call with Iranian President Pezeshkian on Saturday. Pezeshkian stressed “the need to build trust to facilitate talks.” Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt are sending top diplomats to Islamabad today for a two-day visit. The outcome of this summit — whether any de-escalation mechanism is announced — is the most closely watched diplomatic signal of the week. Witkoff confirmed the US is “waiting for an answer” from Iran on the 15-point plan.
3
Military
Heavy Strikes on Tehran Overnight Saturday — Civilian Areas, University, Industrial Sites Hit
Iranian state-affiliated media reported heavy bombardment across northeastern, western, central and eastern Tehran Saturday evening. Buildings at an engineering university were confirmed damaged. US-Israeli strikes also severely hit the Iran University of Science and Technology. The Parchin military area was reportedly targeted. Industrial facilities including steel and cement factories across southern and central Iran were struck. US CENTCOM confirmed striking Bandar Khamir port on 29 March, killing at least five people.
4
Energy Markets
Iran Charging “Toll” Fees at Hormuz — GCC Secretary-General Confirms
The Gulf Cooperation Council’s Secretary-General Jasem al-Budaiwi confirmed Iran is charging ships for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz — a de facto privatisation of the world’s most critical waterway. Iran’s Parliament is also reportedly planning to formalise these fees. The yuan-based toll system is generating Chinese-currency revenue for the Iranian state. Before the war, 130 ships transited Hormuz daily; now fewer than 6 pass per day, mostly bound for China and India.
5
Regional Spillover
Kuwait Airport Fire. Abu Dhabi Aluminium Smelter Damaged. Port in Oman Hit.
A massive blaze broke out at Kuwait International Airport after a drone attack hit fuel tanks. A major global aluminium company (the world’s second-largest supplier) confirmed “significant damage” at its Abu Dhabi smelter site from Iranian missile and drone attacks — three smelting lines already shut, equivalent to 19% of yearly production. A port in Oman was also targeted. The Middle East aluminium sector, which accounts for ~9% of global supply, is now directly in the line of fire.
“When Iran holds Hormuz hostage, every nation pays the ransom — at the gas pump, at the grocery store, and at the pharmacy. No country can be allowed to destabilise the global economy in this way.”
— US official, Washington’s Middle East Institute
Nigeria at the Crossroads
What Day 29 Means for Nigeria
Naira & fuel: With Brent holding above $100 — and now Houthi entry threatening the Bab al-Mandab alongside Hormuz — the naira remains under pressure from elevated fuel import costs. Nigeria’s petrol pricing, now closer to international benchmarks, means sustained $100+ oil feeds directly into transport and food costs for ordinary Nigerians.
Remittances from the Gulf: Nigerians in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait are living through nightly missile interceptions and infrastructure attacks. Remittance flows from these communities may slow as uncertainty grows.
Food prices: The IEA’s warning that fertiliser supply (50% of global urea and sulfur transits Hormuz) is at risk directly threatens Nigeria’s agricultural input costs — pushing up prices of rice, maize and vegetables at the market.
Silver lining: As Africa’s largest oil producer, Nigeria benefits from elevated crude prices. Bonny Light above $100/bbl strengthens Nigeria’s federation account — but only if domestic production holds and refining capacity translates that to local price relief.
Remittances from the Gulf: Nigerians in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait are living through nightly missile interceptions and infrastructure attacks. Remittance flows from these communities may slow as uncertainty grows.
Food prices: The IEA’s warning that fertiliser supply (50% of global urea and sulfur transits Hormuz) is at risk directly threatens Nigeria’s agricultural input costs — pushing up prices of rice, maize and vegetables at the market.
Silver lining: As Africa’s largest oil producer, Nigeria benefits from elevated crude prices. Bonny Light above $100/bbl strengthens Nigeria’s federation account — but only if domestic production holds and refining capacity translates that to local price relief.
Next US deadline — power plants
Monday, 6 April 2026
8
days remaining
Trump extended by 10 days on March 27. Iran must reopen Hormuz or face strikes on energy infrastructure. Iran has denied all negotiations.
Sources: CNN, AP, NBC News, NPR, Al Jazeera, Fox News, Wikipedia (2026 Iran War), GlobalSecurity.org, WBUR, ACLED, Sky Sports. Updated Sunday 29 March 2026.
