US-Israel war on Iran, day 29: Yemen's Houthis enter war with missile targeting Israel; Drones hit Kuwait airport

Day 28: Rubio says US expects victory in weeks after G7 talks

Day 27: Trump insists Iran is ‘begging’ to make a deal, not him

Day 26: US preparing to deploy 1,000 troops to Middle East

Day 25: UAE intercepts threats from Iran ; 1dead, 5 hurt in Bahrain

Day 24: Netanyahu speaks with Trump, vows to protect Israel's interests

Day 23: Trump gives Iran 48 hours to reopen Strait of Hormuz

Day 22: Trump says US considering ‘winding down’ war

Day 21: UK to let US use bases for strikes on Iran threats

Day 20: Trump vows to destroy Iran gas field; UAE intercepts threats

Day 19: Iran warns of 'consequences' after gas field hit

Day 18: Iran confirms security chief Ali Larijani killed

Day 17:  Trump urges allies to secure Strait of Hormuz,

Day 16: Trump calls for allies on Strait of Hormuz security

Day 15: Trump threatens Iran’s oil infrastructure after US bombs Kharg

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday that Israel struck two of his country’s largest steel factories, a power plant and nuclear sites, among other infrastructure that were hit earlier in the day.

“Israel claims it acted in coordination with the US Attack contradicts POTUS extended deadline for diplomacy. Iran will exact HEAVY price for Israeli crimes,” he wrote on X.

The US and Israel launched multiple attacks on industrial and nuclear sites in Iran just hours after Israel threatened to “escalate and expand” its campaign against Tehran.

The IAEA is looking into the damage caused by a strike on Iran’s Shahid Rezayee Nejad Yellow Cake Production Facility in Yazd province. The agency said on X that no increase in off-site radiation levels has been reported.

Earlier on Friday, the US and Israel launched multiple attacks on industrial and nuclear sites in Iran just hours after Israel threatened to “escalate and expand” its campaign against Tehran.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced Friday night that he will be meeting with his Egyptian, Saudi and Pakistani counterparts in Pakistan over the weekend regarding the war in Iran.

Fidan was asked about Turkey’s role in the war during an interview with private news channel A Haber, where he said telephone diplomacy was ongoing and that they were currently in the middle of a “difficult and painful” process.

He also added that Turkey was working to prevent the escalation of mistrust between Iran and its Gulf neighbors, who are under attack by Tehran.

“That’s exactly the scenario Israel wants, for the Muslim countries engaging in a long-term regional war,” Fidan said.

The president said in his speech at the FII Priority Summit in Miami that economic growth would surge once the war ends, suggesting that the world would benefit from Iran no longer pursuing nuclear weapons or using terrorist proxies.

The president played down recent declines in the stock market, saying "It hasn't been that bad" and that he thought oil prices were going to be higher than they are now.

The president made the comment when he was asked what he would like his legacy to be. He responded by saying that "it doesn't sound right for me to say this, but I'd love my legacy to be made as a great peacemaker."

He added: "I really believe I'm a peacemaker. It doesn't seem it right now, but I think I'm a peacemaker."

Israeli army says it has launched a "wave of strikes targeting Hezbollah terror infrastructure in Beirut" and issued an evacuation warning for several neighbourhoods in the southern suburbs.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) also reported Israel strikes on south Beirut’s Tahouitet Al-Ghadir area, and the east.

UAE air defences are engaging to incoming missiles and UAV's threat from Iran. The UAE Ministry of Defence (MOD) asserts that the sounds heard are the result of Air Defence Systems engaging missiles and the fighters are intercepting cruise missiles and UAV's.

Israel's military said early Saturday that Iran fired missiles targeting the country.

The latest missiles follow an earlier salvo that killed 1 person and injure more across Israel late Friday and into Saturday.

Sirens sounded in northern Israel, along the border with Lebanon, where rocket and drone attacks from Hezbollah have been constant during the war.

UAE residents have received a mobile alert from the Ministry of Defence confirming that the situation in the country is currently safe, following earlier warnings about potential missile threats.

The message, sent across the UAE, thanked residents for their cooperation and reassured the public that normal activities can now resume.

Authorities urged residents to stay vigilant, follow safety guidance, and monitor official channels for any updates.

Earlier, the ministry that UAE air defence systems were actively responding to incoming missile and drone threats launched from Iran amid ongoing regional hostilities.

The UN nuclear watchdog said Friday it had been informed by Iran of a new strike in the area of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, the third such incident in 10 days.

Tehran told the agency there was no damage to the operating reactor and no radiation release, and that the plant was functioning normally, the International Atomic Energy Agency said on X.

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi warned that that any strike damaging a reactor could trigger a major radiological incident, urging "maximum military restraint".

Relevant authorities in Abu Dhabi are responding to fire incidents in the Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (KEZAD), caused by debris from a ballistic missile successfully intercepted by air defence systems.

Following the incident, competent authorities confirmed that five individuals of Indian nationality sustained minor to moderate injuries.

Israel's military reported a first missile launch from Yemen since the Middle East war began on February 28, after Iran's Houthi allies threatened to join the fighting.

A military statement said Israeli forces had "identified the launch of a missile from Yemen toward Israeli territory, aerial defence systems are operating to intercept the threat".

It was the first such statement mentioning a launch from Yemen during the war with Iran, which has entered its second month.

There were no reports of any casualties or damage in Israel, and media reports suggested the missile may have been intercepted.

The Civil Defence of the Kingdom of Bahrain has announced that it successfully distinguished a fire in a facility targeted by the Iranian aggression.

This came in a statement by the Bahraini Ministry of Interior.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior warned against photographing, publishing, or sharing any information related to intercepting hostile missiles and drones or their impact locations.

The ministry said violators would face legal accountability. The warning comes amid ongoing interceptions of missiles and drones targeting the Kingdom.

Thailand has reached an agreement with Iran to allow Thai oil vessels safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, the Southeast Asian nation's Prime Minister said on Saturday.

"An agreement has been reached to allow Thai oil tankers to transit safely through the Strait of Hormuz," Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said at a press conference, adding the development would alleviate concerns over fuel imports.

Kuwait’s Jazeera Airways will resume flights between Kuwait and Karachi via Dammam Airport from April 7, operating twice weekly on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The route supports passenger travel and cargo flows, using an integrated air‑ground model through Dammam and Qaisumah airports to maintain operations and expand connectivity amid challenges.

Washington: President Donald Trump has listed five objectives that the US wants to achieve before ending its war with Iran. Now, one month into the conflict, he has suggested the US may soon be “winding down” the operation, even though some of his key aims remain undefined or unfulfilled.

A security source reported that the port of Salalah was targeted by two unmanned aerial vehicles, resulting in moderate injuries to an expatriate worker and limited damage to a port crane, according to the Oman News Agency. Authorities confirmed that swift response measures were taken to contain the situation and prevent further harm.

The Sultanate of Oman strongly condemned the hostile attacks, describing them as unacceptable acts that threaten the country’s security and stability. Officials emphasised that all necessary measures are being implemented to protect critical infrastructure and ensure the safety of residents and workers at the port.

Oman authorities reiterated its commitment to maintaining vigilance against such threats and warned that any attempts to destabilise the nation would be met with decisive action. Security agencies continue to investigate the incident and monitor the situation closely.

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Saturday claimed their first attack on Israel since the start of the Middle East war a month ago.

In a statement posted on X, the group, which controls most of northern Yemen and targeted Israel with drones and missiles throughout much of the Gaza war, said it had launched missiles at Israeli military sites.

A few hours earlier, the Israeli military said it had identified an attack from Yemen and was working to intercept it.

As part of the ongoing follow-up to the previously reported incident in the vicinity of Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi – KEZAD, caused by falling debris following the successful interception of a ballistic missile by air defence systems, authorities confirmed outbreak of a third fire.

Authorities further confirmed an additional injury as a result of the incident, to a Pakistani national, bringing the total number of injured individuals to six, with injuries ranging from minor to moderate. Authorities have controlled all three fires and the cooling process is underway.

The public is advised to obtain information only from official sources and to avoid spreading rumours or unverified information.

Spokesperson for Kuwait's Public Authority for Civil Aviation Abdullah Al Rajhi announced that Kuwait International Airport was subjected to several drone attacks, with no casualties, but only limited damage.

Al Rajhi said in a statement that the attack caused significant damage to the airport's radar system. He added that emergency teams and relevant authorities immediately responded to the incident, taking necessary measures to comprehensively assess the situation, ensure the safety of operations, and restore full operational readiness as soon as possible.

He affirmed the Authority's full commitment and continued coordination with relevant authorities to take all necessary measures to safeguard the security and safety of civil aviation in Kuwait.

An explosion was heard on Saturday morning near the international airport of Erbil, a city in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, an AFP journalist reported and a witness said they saw smoke.

Erbil is home to a major US consulate complex, while its airport houses military advisors attached to a US-led international anti-jihadist coalition. Regular drone attacks by pro-Iran armed groups are usually intercepted by air defences.

Foreign ministers from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt will meet in Islamabad for talks on the war in the Middle East, the government said on Saturday.

It said Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had invited his counterparts and that they would be in the Pakistani capital on Sunday and Monday.

The visiting foreign ministers would also meet Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, it said.

A foreign ministry source earlier told AFP that the quadrilateral meeting would take place on Monday, with delegations expected to arrive in Pakistan by Sunday evening.

Pakistan has emerged as a key facilitator between Iran and the United States as the conflict drags on, serving as an intermediary for messages between the two sides.

Production at a major steel factory in Iran has been halted following US-Israeli strikes, Iranian media said on Saturday.

Citing a statement by the Khuzestan Steel Company in Iran's southwest, Shargh daily said the plant's "production lines have been shut down" after several units and steelmaking facilities were hit by strikes on Friday.

Iran's military said Saturday that it had targeted a US logistics vessel near the Omani port of Salalah.

"A logistics vessel supporting the aggressive US army was targeted by the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran at a considerable distance from the port of Salalah in Oman," Ebrahim Zolfaghari, a spokesman for Iran's central military command said in a statement carried by state TV.

Iranian media said that US-Israeli strikes hit multiple residential areas, killing more than a dozen people overnight, though AFP was not able to independently verify any of these tolls.

Israel's military earlier said it launched strikes on Iranian "regime targets", as an AFP journalist in the capital Tehran reported hearing around 10 intense blasts and seeing a plume of black smoke.

The UAE’s air defence systems intercepted 20 ballistic missiles and 37 drones launched from Iran on March 28, the Ministry of Defence said.

The ministry added that since the start of the Iranian attacks, UAE air defences have intercepted a total of 398 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1,872 drones.

AFP journalists reported two blasts heard over Jerusalem, after the Israeli military said it had detected incoming missiles launched from Iran.

The apparent attack came shortly after the Israeli military said it had completed a wave of strikes across the Iranian capital Tehran.

Three Lebanese journalists including a correspondent with a Hezbollah-affiliated outlet were killed on Saturday by an Israeli strike that targeted their vehicle in southern Lebanon, a military source told AFP.

Al Shouaib of Hezbollah's channel Al-Manar and Fatima Fatouni of Al-Mayadeen, seen as close to the Iran-backed movement, were killed in Jezzine, alongside Fatouni's brother, a cameraman, the source said.

Al-Mayadeen and Al-Manar confirmed the deaths of their journalists.

Danish shipping giant Maersk said operations had been temporarily halted at Oman's port of Salalah after a drone attack on Saturday injured one worker and damaged a crane.

Maersk, whose subsidiary APM Terminals runs the port, said "it was immediately evacuated and operations across the facility were temporarily suspended", predicting it would remain closed for 48 hours.

On Saturday, Iran said it had targeted a US logistics vessel "at a considerable distance from the port".

A US aircraft carrier has anchored in Croatia on its route to the Middle East amid the US and Israeli month-long war against Iran.

The US 6th Fleet said the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, anchored in the Port of Split in Croatia following its Adriatic Sea transit from Souda Bay, in Greece, where it conducted repairs and refueled.

The carrier docked last month at the American naval base at Souda Bay, stirring up protests on Crete ahead of the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran that triggered the war.

UAE authorities have confirmed that the country’s air defence systems are actively intercepting incoming missiles and drones launched from Iran, as regional tensions rise.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in an advisory that the sounds heard in parts of the country were due to air defence systems engaging the threats, not ground impacts.

In separate advisories, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) urged the public to stay indoors or in secure locations and follow official channels for verified updates.

Authorities said all defence systems remain fully operational, with efforts focused on protecting national airspace and ensuring residents’ safety.

Residents have been advised to rely only on official information as the situation evolves. Authorities added that developments are being closely monitored, with further updates or alerts possible in the coming hours while prioritising civilian safety and critical infrastructure.

Iran is skeptical about recent diplomatic efforts to stop the war in the Middle East, its Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told his Turkish counterpart in a phone call Saturday.

According to a readout of the call on Iranian state-run media, Araghchi accused the US of making “unreasonable demands” and exhibiting “contradictory actions” that raised doubts about the prospect of an agreement.

Recent US moves, he said, have been “increased pessimism” on the Iranian side, without specifying which actions.

The Iranian readout said Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan assured Araghchi that “Iran’s pessimism toward the other side is understandable because Iran has twice been subjected to attack and military aggression in the midst of negotiations.”

The UAE Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed that its air defence systems responded to incoming missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles launched from Iran, amid rising regional tensions.

Authorities said the loud sounds reported in parts of the country were caused by defensive interceptions, not missile or drone impacts on the ground. Multiple threats were successfully neutralised.

A nationwide mobile alert later confirmed the situation was safe, following earlier warnings of potential missile threats. The alert also thanked the public for their cooperation and said normal activities could resume.

Seven people have been hurt in an Iranian missile attack on a town in central Israel, Israel’s rescue service Magen David Adom said Saturday.

Some people were wounded as a result of the impact of the explosion in Eshtaol, near Jerusalem, while others were hurt running to shelters.

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday hailed mediation efforts by Pakistan to stop the war with US and Israel.

In a call with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pezeshkian "thanked Pakistan for its mediation efforts to stop the aggression against the Islamic republic," according to the presidency.

The call took place as foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey prepared to meet in Islamabad for talks on the war in the Middle East.

Qatar and Ukraine signed a defence agreement on Saturday including cooperation on countering threats from missiles and drones, the Gulf state's defence ministry said while Iran pressed an aerial campaign against its neighbours.

"The agreement includes collaboration in technological fields, development of joint investments and the exchange of expertise in countering missiles and unmanned aerial systems," the ministry said in a statement during a visit to Qatar by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Saturday they had found and dismantled more than 120 unexploded cluster bombs, alleging they were dropped during US and Israeli attacks on a southern province.

"So far, 122 cluster bombs have been discovered and destroyed around Shiraz and in several towns,"the ISNA news agency quoted Jalal Yarmohammadi, deputy head of public relations for the Guards in Fars province, as saying.

It was not immediately clear when the bombs, which involve a single projectile that releases multiple bomblets, were dropped, though the statement said it was "several days ago".

The Israeli military said nine soldiers were injured in two different attacks in southern Lebanon.

Two officers were severely injured, the military said in a statement, adding that they occurred during anti-tank missile fire and a rocket launched towards Israeli troops in southern Lebanon.

The military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the total number of soldiers wounded since the war began.

The Ministry of Education and Higher Education of Qatar announced that all preparations have been completed across public and private schools to resume in-person classes starting Sunday, following completion of comprehensive arrangements aimed at preparing a suitable school environment to receive nearly 417,000 students and ensure smooth and stable continuation of the educational process, the Qatar News Agency reported. These proactive measures supported the continuity of learning under various circumstances.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the ministry said the General Services Department played a central role in preparing school buildings and facilities by completing preventive maintenance and verifying the efficiency of operational systems and technical services, contributing to a safe and stable learning environment that supports the regular school day, in addition to ensuring the readiness of service providers in line with approved standards.

Experts warn that the Iran-backed Houthis have the potential to create a disastrous economic shock around the world.

If the Houthis ramp up their role in this conflict by targeting vessels in the narrow Bab el-Mandeb Strait off the Red Sea, it would not only further push up oil prices but destabilize “all of maritime security,” said Ahmed Nagi, a senior Yemen analyst at the International Crisis Group, a research institution. “The impact would not be limited to the energy market.”

As Iran strangles the Strait of Hormuz, countries have scrambled for alternative routes.

About 12% of the world’s trade typically passes through that waterway, including oil, natural gas, grain and everything from toys to electronics.

The Al Taweelah site operated by Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) at Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi has sustained significant damage during Iranian missile and drone attacks, it said in a statement on Saturday.

The company stated that a number of employees were injured, with none of the injuries described as life-threatening, while also adding that damage assessments are ongoing.

Israel’s rescue service Magen David Adom now says 11 people were lightly wounded in the attack in Eshtaol, near Jerusalem. Some were injured from the impact of the explosion and others hurt while running to shelters.

Among the wounded were a 75-year-old man whose roof collapsed and a 47-year-old whose doorway was blown off, medics said.

A Navy ship carrying around 2,500 Marines has arrived in the Middle East, US Central Command announced Saturday.

The USS Tripoli, an amphibious assault ship, as well as the elements from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit that are aboard, are based in Japan. They were conducting exercises in the area around Taiwan when it was ordered to the Middle East almost two weeks ago.

US Central Command said that in addition to the Marines, the Tripoli also brings transport and strike fighter aircraft, as well as amphibious assault assets to the region.

The USS Boxer and two other ships, along with another Marine Expeditionary Unit, have also been ordered to the region from San Diego.

Qatar’s Defence Ministry said it intercepted a number of drones fired from Iran, the first attack the Gulf state reports in over a week.

Qatar sounded the alarms to warn citizens against incoming fire on Friday but did not report any attacks following the alarms, according to an AP journalist.

The US Central Command on Saturday released the footage of its airstrikes on the Iranian naval vessels amid the heightened tensions in West Asia.

In a post on X, the US Central Command said, "For decades, Iranian naval vessels have threatened and harassed global shipping in regional waters, but those days are over."

The Israeli military said it carried out widespread strikes overnight against Tehran, using more than 50 fighter jets to target weapons production infrastructure.

The military said the main target of the strikes was Iran’s naval weapons production facilities. Iran did not immediately acknowledge any strikes on its marine or naval programs.

The Health Ministry in Beirut said Saturday that 47 people were killed and 112 wounded over the past 24 hours.

The ministry says 1,189 have been killed and 3,427 wounded since the latest Israel-Hezbollah war began on March 2.

The Israeli military said Saturday it had struck an industrial complex in Tehran used for the research and development of naval weapons.

"The IDF struck the headquarters of the Iranian terrorist regime's Marine Industries Organization," the military said, adding the strike was part of a wave of attacks conducted overnight from Friday to Saturday.

"This headquarters is responsible for the research, development, and production of a wide range of naval weaponry, including surface and sub-surface vessels, manned and unmanned equipment, as well as engines and weapons."

Oil prices stayed near recent highs as of Saturday after a volatile week driven by escalating tensions in the Middle East. Brent crude was trading above $112 per barrel while US West Texas Intermediate hovered close to $100, with both benchmarks last posting strong weekly gains as traders grew increasingly sceptical about the chances of a near-term ceasefire.

The rally has been supported by continued disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz and fears of a prolonged conflict affecting supply. Analysts say the market is now pricing in the risk of sustained disruption rather than a quick resolution, with crude rising more than 50% since the conflict began and remaining volatile as military activity and stalled negotiations keep supply concerns firmly in focus.

Every effort must be made to avoid Iraq being sucked up into an escalation of the Middle East war, French President Emmanuel Macron said Saturday after speaking with the head of the country's autonomous Kurdistan region.

Macron posted his message on X after a deadly strike in northern Iraq against the former paramilitary group the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF).

"Everything must be done to avoid Iraq being drawn into the current escalation," he said.

Macron said he had told the Iraqi Kurdistan region's President Nechirvan Barzani that he also viewed as "unacceptable" a drone attack against his official residence earlier Saturday.

"This very worrying development adds to a rise in attacks against Iraqi institutions, like those that left six eshmergas dead this week," he said, referring to members of Kurdistan's armed forces who were killed in an Iranian missile strike Tuesday.

Hezbollah has launched some 250 projectiles from Lebanon in the past 24 hours, according to an Israeli military official who spoke on the condition of anonymity in line with military guidelines.

The official said most of the projectiles were aimed at Israeli soldiers operating in southern Lebanon and only 23 crossed the border into Israel. Northern Israel has still experienced constant sirens warning of projectiles from both Hezbollah and Iran.

The Israeli military said at least nine soldiers were injured, two severely, from Hezbollah rockets on Friday and Saturday.

Exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi told a gathering of US conservatives on Saturday that he’s ready to lead a transition away from the Islamic Republic and said when the “right moment arrives” he will call on the people of Iran to rise up.

Pahlavi spoke for nearly 30 minutes at the Conservative Political Action Conference outside Dallas where he was interrupted several times by applause and cheers.

He praised President Donald Trump for initiating the military action against Iran’s current government.

The biggest crowd reactions came when he asked the crowd if they could envision Iran turning into a friend and ally of the United States.

“Can you imagine Iran going from death to America to God bless America?” he said.

Later, the crowd erupted again when he added: “President Trump is making America great again. I intend to make Iran great again.”

But Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin declined to comment on uranium that he said is underground.

“There will be no nuclear weapons for Iran,” he added.

When asked about the Houthis, Defrin said Israel was preparing for a multi-front war.

“We will know how to defend Israeli civilians. … We act, we don’t talk,” he said, adding: “Anyone who threatens Israeli civilians, we will strike them.”

Badr Abdelatty will take part in talks with his counterparts from Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia on the war in the Middle East.

In a statement, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said the Egyptian foreign minister will hold consultations on regional developments and is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

World Health Organisation Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement that 51 health workers in Lebanon have been killed this month. He also said “repeated attacks on health care are severely disrupting the delivery of services in southern Lebanon.”

This has been the second-deadliest month for health care workers in Lebanon since the UN agency began monitoring attacks on health care in the country in October 2023, he said.

Lebanon’s Health Minister Rakan Nassereddine said earlier that nine paramedics were killed in Israeli strikes Saturday, raising the death toll in the latest Israel-Hezbollah war to 46 paramedics and five other health care workers. Nine hospitals have been subjected to attacks and five closed as a result, he said.

Israel has accused Hezbollah of using medical facilities and ambulances for military purposes, without giving evidence.

Israel’s military has struck more than 1,000 sites involved in weapons production.

“This means we will have destroyed the majority of their military abilities, and it will take the regime a long time to rehabilitate them,” military spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said. “They wanted to launch hundreds of missiles towards Israel, and they’re having difficulty realising that goal, and they are launching much fewer,” he added.

He added that on Friday, Israel attacked two major factories, including a uranium factory and a heavy water factory that are part of Iran’s nuclear weapons development. Iran has acknowledged attacks on the factories.

Pakistan’s foreign minister said late Saturday that Iran has agreed to allow 20 additional Pakistani-flagged ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

Ishaq Dar wrote on X that two Pakistani ships would cross the strategic waterway daily under the arrangement.

“This is a welcome and constructive gesture by Iran and deserves appreciation,” Dar said. “It is a harbinger of peace and will help usher stability in the region.”

He said the move marked a meaningful step toward de-escalation and would strengthen efforts for peace.

A strike on Iraq's northern Mosul city killed two police officers, the ministry of interior said, blaming the attack on the US and Israel.

The ministry said the "Zionist-American" attack also wounded five policemen, who were "targeted in the second strike while performing their humanitarian duty of rescuing their wounded colleagues" after the initial attack targeted a police station in the city centre.

The position is shared with the former paramilitary coalition the Popular Mobilisation Forces, a PMF official told AFP. The group is integrated into the army but still contains some pro-Iran factions.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi late Saturday, urging “an end to all attacks and hostilities” in the region.

The call came ahead of a meeting in Islamabad of top diplomats from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Dar told Araghchi that Pakistan remains committed to supporting efforts aimed at restoring regional peace and stability.

We are closing coverage for now. Follow our live updates for the latest developments here.