- 'Extremely' ahead of schedule -

President Donald Trump said Thursday that US military operations against Iran are "extremely" ahead of schedule, citing an original timeframe of four to six weeks for the war that began nearly a month ago.

"We estimated it would take approximately four to six weeks to achieve our mission. Twenty-six days in we're extremely, really, a lot ahead of schedule," Trump told his first cabinet meeting since the start of the conflict.

- 'Repay loyalty with loyalty' -

Abdul Malik al-Houthi, leader of Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement, warned on Thursday of a "military response" should the Middle East war require it.

The Houthis, a key part of Iran's so-called "axis of resistance", have so far refrained from joining the war.

"As the people of Yemen, we repay loyalty with loyalty," the Houthi leader said. "Any development in the battle that requires a military response, we will promptly undertake it... just as we did in previous rounds."

- Iran answers US proposal -

Iran has responded through unnamed intermediaries to a 15-point US plan to end the war and is now awaiting Washington's reply, the Tasnim news agency said.

The exact contents of the US plan, conveyed to Iran via Pakistan according to Pakistani officials, are not officially known.

- 'Kill Americans' -

The EU accused Russia of providing intelligence support to Iran in the Middle East war to "kill Americans", calling on the United States to increase pressure on Moscow.

"We see that Russia is helping Iran with intelligence to target Americans, to kill Americans, and Russia is also supporting Iran now with the drones so that they can attack neighbouring countries and also US military bases," the European Union's top diplomate Kaja Kallas said.

- Five killed in Lebanon -

Israeli strikes on Lebanon killed at least five people, Lebanese state media said, as Hezbollah militants claimed they had staged a new wave of attacks on Israel.

The Israeli military announced, meanwhile, the killing of a soldier in fighting in south Lebanon, raising to three the total number of troops killed since Hezbollah drew Lebanon into war with Israel.

- Gulf involvement -

Gulf countries said they wanted to be involved in any talks between the United States and Iran.

"We emphasize the necessity of involving the GCC countries in any talks or agreements to resolve this crisis, in a way that contributes to strengthening their security and stability," Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary General Jasem AlBudaiwi said in a televised speech, adding that Iran had been asking vessels to pay sums of money to cross the Strait of Hormuz.

- 'Nothing from NATO' -

"NATO nations have done absolutely nothing to help with the lunatic nation, now militarily decimated, of Iran," US President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.

"The USA needs nothing from NATO".

- 'Get serious soon' -

US President Donald Trump said Iran "better get serious soon" in US talks to end the Middle East war.

- 'De-escalate' -

Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand told AFP in an interview that she had spoken to all countries impacted in the region and all G7 members "to ensure that we are all collectively advocating for de-escalation and for the opening of the Strait of Hormuz and for a path forwards for the Iranian people that preserves their lives."

- Guards' commander killed -

Defence Minister Israel Katz said that an Israeli airstrike had killed Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' navy, along with other senior navy officers.

There was no comment from the Guards.

- Drone 'lies' -

The Kremlin denied a report that it was close to completing a shipment of drones to Iran.

"There are so many lies being spread by the media... Do not pay attention to them," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

- Deadly debris in Abu Dhabi -

Two people were killed and three were wounded by falling debris after air defences intercepted a ballistic missile on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi, the government media office said.

- Wounded in Israel -

Missile attacks from Iran left six people lightly injured in Israel, medics said.

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