- US strikes Iran's Kharg Island -

President Donald Trump said Friday that the US military had heavily bombed military targets on Iran's Kharg Island, which handles almost all of Iran's crude exports, and threatened to hit the island's oil infrastructure.

"I have chosen NOT to wipe out the Oil Infrastructure on the Island. However, should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider," Trump posted on Truth Social.

- Trump says US to escort tankers 'very soon' -

Trump told reporters Friday that the US Navy would start escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz "very soon" to restore oil exports as he struggles to tackle soaring US gas prices.

- Qatar evacuates 'key areas' -

Qatar's interior ministry said Saturday that it was evacuating a number of "key areas" as Iran presses its retaliatory air campaign against Gulf countries.

In Doha's central Musheireb district some residents received phone alerts telling them to "evacuate the area immediately... to the nearest safest place as a temporary precaution".

- Iran targets Israel -

Iran launched a fresh round of missiles towards Israel, state media reported just after midnight on Saturday in Tehran, but Israeli rescue workers said there were no reported casualties following the strikes.

Israel's military said it had identified missiles from Iran and "was operating to intercept the threat," as air raid sirens in multiple areas sent people into shelters.

- Lebanon says health centre hit -

An Israeli strike on a primary healthcare centre in southern Lebanon killed at least 12 medical personnel, the Lebanese health ministry said.

The ministry said the attack was "the second against the health sector in a few hours", following a strike on Sawaneh that killed two paramedics affiliated with Hezbollah and its ally Amal.

- Hezbollah defiant -

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said his group was ready for a long confrontation with Israel, as the latter threatened to make Lebanon pay an "increasing price" in damage to infrastructure.

Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war last week when the Tehran-backed militant group attacked Israel in response to the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes.

Israeli strikes continued Friday, including an attack that killed eight people in a south Lebanese village near the port city of Sidon, according to the health ministry.

- US reportedly bulking up -

The United States appears to be reinforcing its Middle East deployment by sending an amphibious assault ship and Marines to the region, The Wall Street Journal reported.

CNN reported that the Marines involved are an Expeditionary Unit, which typically counts 2,500 Marines and sailors.

- Oil stays above $100 -

Oil prices stayed over $100 a barrel Friday while stock markets slid as investors worry about an extended crisis that could fan inflation and hammer the global economy.

The price of Brent crude, the international crude benchmark contract, closed at $103.14 a barrel, and has soared by more than 42 percent since the start of the conflict.

- $10 mn reward -

The US State Department offered a $10-million reward for information about Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei and other top officials.

- F1 races cancelled -

Formula One races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia will be cancelled or rescheduled as the war engulfs the region, a source with knowledge of the matter told AFP.

The Bahrain race is currently scheduled for April 10 to 12, and Saudi Arabia a week later.

- 7,600 targets -

Israel's military said it had carried out around 7,600 strikes in Iran and 1,100 in Lebanon since launching its joint operation with the United States.

- Lebanon toll climbs -

Israeli strikes have killed at least 773 people in Lebanon since March 2, the Lebanese health ministry said, as Israel vowed the country would pay an "increasing price" in damage to infrastructure.

- Israel hit -

Smoke could be seen rising from two locations around Israel's commercial hub Tel Aviv, AFP journalist saw, after blasts were heard following a warning that missiles were fired from Iran.

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