- Iran hunts US pilot -

Iranian authorities urged people living in the rugged southwest of the country to search for the crew of a downed US fighter jet, as state TV broadcast images of what was said to be the mangled remains of the plane.

The New York Times quoted US and Israeli officials confirming the Iranian claims to have shot down a jet, and other major American outlets reported that US forces had launched a rescue operation.

- Trump seeks $1.5 tn defense budget -

US President Donald Trump asked lawmakers to approve a massive $1.5 trillion defense budget for 2027, as the United States faces rising costs from its war with Iran and mounting global security commitments.

The proposal would lift Pentagon spending by more than 40 percent in a single year -- the sharpest increase since World War II.

- UN peacekeepers wounded -

The United Nations force in Lebanon said a blast at one of its positions wounded three peacekeepers -- two of them seriously -- the third such incident in a week.

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon is deployed in the country's south near the border, where Israel and Hezbollah have been at war for a month and where Israeli troops are carrying out a ground invasion.

- 'Immediate ceasefire' urged -

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East war during a phone call, the Kremlin said.

"It was noted that intense military action is leading to serious negative consequences not only regionally but also globally, including in the areas of energy, trade, and logistics," it added.

- Fresh strikes on Beirut-

Fresh strikes hit Beirut's southern suburbs on Friday as the Israeli army said it was targeting "terror infrastructure", hours after having issued an evacuation warning for the area.

An AFP correspondent heard explosions as the state-run National News Agency reported strikes on the area, a Hezbollah bastion that has largely emptied of residents since war erupted last month.

- Tankers cross Hormuz -

Three tankers, including one co-owned by a Japanese company, crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday by hugging close to Oman's shore, a rare transit route as Iran maintains a chokehold on the key war-torn passageway.

Their passage was notable because they sailed close to the Omani Musandam Peninsula to the south of the waterway, maritime traffic data showed Friday.

- Italian PM visits Gulf -

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni began a surprise visit to Saudi Arabia as part of a Gulf tour to boost "national energy security", a government source said.

The source said Meloni would meet with officials from Saudi Arabia, as well as from Qatar and United Arab Emirates on what had been a hitherto unannounced trip.

- Easter mass cancelled -

All masses in Dubai have been cancelled because of the war, two Catholic churches in the United Arab Emirates posted on their websites.

- Ukraine offer -

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in remarks made public Friday said his country could help unblock the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking to journalists, including AFP, he cited Kyiv's experience in restoring passage through the Black Sea, which Russia had blocked at the beginning of its invasion of Ukraine. But he did not provide details.

- Kuwait plant hit -

A Kuwaiti power and desalination complex was damaged by an attack from Iran, the electricity and water ministry said.

An AFP correspondent in Kuwait City said there had been no disruption to power or water services.

- Gas complex shut -

A fire caused by falling debris from an intercepted attack forced the suspension of operations at the Habshan gas complex in Abu Dhabi, the government media office said.

- 3,500 targets -

The Israeli military said it had struck more than 3,500 targets across Lebanon since fighting with the Iran-backed Hezbollah militants began.

burs-ach/jj

THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY