- New attacks in Tehran and on Iranian port -

US-Israeli strikes hit the Iranian port city of Bandar Khamir near the strategic Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, killing five people, Iranian state media reported. The IRNA news agency said four people were wounded in the strike.

A series of loud explosions was heard Sunday across the Iranian capital. The blasts were heard in northern Tehran and smoke was seen rising from impacted areas.

- Iran claims hits on UAE, Bahrain aluminium plants -

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Sunday they launched missile and drone strikes on aluminium plants in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, targeting what they described as industries linked to the US military.

In a statement carried by Iranian state broadcaster IRIB, the Guards said they hit an aluminium facility in the UAE and Aluminium Bahrain's main plant, calling both sites "industries affiliated with and connected to the US military and aerospace sectors in the region".

- Israel announces fifth military death in Lebanon -

The Israeli army announced the death in combat of a soldier in south Lebanon -- the fifth in Lebanon since Hezbollah launched new rocket attacks on Israel on March 2. Twenty-two year-old Sergeant Moshe Yitzchak hacohen Katz, came from New Haven, Connecticut, a military statement said.

- Pentagon readying for ground operations: report -

The Pentagon is preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran -- potentially including raids on Kharg Island and coastal sites near the Strait of Hormuz -- though US President Donald Trump has yet to approve any deployment, the Washington Post reported Saturday.

Any ground operation would stop short of a full-scale invasion, instead involving raids by special operations forces and conventional infantry troops, the Post said, citing unnamed officials.

- Kuwait responds to missile and drone attacks -

Kuwait's military said Sunday it was responding to "hostile missile and drone" threats.

"The general staff of the Kuwaiti Armed Forces confirms that any explosions that may be heard are the result of air defense systems intercepting hostile targets," it posted on social media.

- Iran threatens US universities in Mideast -

Iran's Revolutionary Guard on Sunday threatened to target US universities in the Middle East, while saying US-Israeli strikes had destroyed two Iranian universities.

The Guard demanded a US condemnation of the bombing of universities by noon (0830 GMT) Monday.

- Pakistan mediation -

Pakistan will host foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey in Islamabad on Sunday and Monday for discussions "on a range of issues, including efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region", the foreign ministry said.

Islamabad has emerged as a facilitator between Iran and the United States, serving as an intermediary for messages between the two sides.

- Yemen's Houthis fire missiles at Israel -

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels joined the month-old Middle East war on Saturday, claiming two missile attacks on Israel.

Until Saturday, they had sat out the latest conflict, but had warned they would join it if they were targeted or Iran continued to come under attack.

- Anti-war protests in Israel -

Hundreds gathered in Tel Aviv and some other Israeli cities on Saturday to protest the Middle East war, in unauthorised demonstrations that security forces sought to disperse.

Numbers attending weekly protests against the war appear to be rising, though they are far from the tens of thousands who filled the streets last year to protest the conflict against Hamas in Gaza.

- US condemns attack on Iraqi Kurdistan leader -

The United States condemned a drone attack Saturday on a residence of the leader of autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan, Nechirvan Barzani, blaming Iranian militia proxies in Iraq.

"These actions by Iran and its proxies are a direct assault on Iraq's sovereignty, stability, and unity," a statement from State Department deputy spokesman Tommy Pigott said.

- Iran strike on Israeli village -

An Iranian missile strike on a village in central Israel on Saturday wounded 11 people and left a massive crater, medics said.

It hit a residential area in Eshtaol, near Beit Shemesh -- where an earlier strike killed nine people.

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