- Israel strikes south Lebanon and Beirut -

The Israeli military said it launched a wave of strikes on Lebanon's capital Beirut early Saturday targeting the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, after urging residents of several areas to evacuate.

Earlier, Lebanese state media said an Israeli airstrike hit a house in a southern town, killing one person and wounding two others.

- Saudi Arabia intercepts more drones -

The Saudi defence ministry said it had intercepted 22 drones overnight in the country's east.

- US eases Iran oil sanctions -

The US Treasury temporarily lifted sanctions on Iranian oil already loaded onto vessels, allowing deliveries until April 19.

It follows a similar easing of sanctions for Russian oil already at sea, as Washington seeks to stem a global supply crunch caused by the de facto closing of the Strait of Hormuz.

However, Iran said earlier it had "no surplus crude oil" to offer to international markets, after the US Treasury chief previewed the temporary lifting of sanctions.

- War winding down? -

US President Donald Trump said Friday that he was considering "winding down" military operations against Iran and that the Strait of Hormuz would need to be "guarded and policed" by other countries who use the vital waterway.

But he ruled out reaching a ceasefire agreement with Iran.

"We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East with respect to the Terrorist Regime of Iran," Trump posted on Truth Social.

- Britain OKs base use -

Britain has authorised the use of its bases by the United States to strike Iranian sites threatening the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane, the government said.

Since the war began on February 28, Britain has let US forces use two bases for defensive operations and has deployed air assets to support allies targeted by Tehran's regional retaliatory campaign, prompting criticism from Trump.

- Kharg island warning -

The United States could "take out" Iran's Kharg island whenever it wanted, the White House said after a report that the Trump administration was considering plans to occupy or blockade the oil hub.

- More Marines in Mideast? -

The United States is deploying additional Marines to the Middle East, US media reported, possibly signalling a coming ground operation.

The Wall Street Journal said Washington was deploying 2,200 to 2,500 Marines from two California-based units. CNN meanwhile said thousands of Marines and sailors were expected to deploy to the Middle East.

Both publications cited anonymous US officials.

- Iran says not behind Oman attacks -

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said Tehran and allied forces in the region were "in no way" behind attacks on Oman and Turkey during the war, instead blaming "deception by the Zionist enemy", referring to Israel.

- Khamenei: enemy 'defeated' -

Khamenei said Iran's enemies were being defeated in the war against the US and Israel in a written message for the Persian New Year, Nowruz.

"At the moment, due to the particular unity that has been created between you our compatriots... the enemy has been defeated," said Khamenei, who has yet to appear in public after being named to succeed his father Ali Khamenei, who was killed at the start of the war.

- NATO Iraq mission moved -

NATO's mission in Iraq has been fully relocated to Europe, the alliance said, with the last personnel from the non-combat force of several hundred departing the country.

- Tehran blasts -

AFP journalists reported hearing several blasts in Tehran, while in Israel air raid sirens sounded late Friday across Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, with Israeli police saying they were investigating blast impact sites around Tel Aviv.

The warnings came hours after a blast blew a crater in a hillside inside Jerusalem's Old City, spraying debris across a road just a few hundred metres from Jerusalem's revered holy sites of Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Western Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

- Kuwait refinery on fire -

Drone attacks hit Kuwait's Mina Al-Ahmadi oil refinery, causing several fires but no casualties, state media said, citing the national oil company.

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