War in the Middle East: latest developments

PARIS - Here are the latest events in the Middle East war:

Oil markets warning

The head of Saudi Arabia's state-owned Aramco energy giant, president and CEO Amin H. Nasser, warned the war could have "catastrophic consequences" on oil markets and said it was "absolutely critical" that oil shipping resumes in the Strait of Hormuz.

100,000 more displaced in Lebanon

More than 100,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon in a single day, the UN said, as Israel continued to pound Iran-backed Hezbollah militants.

Fresh Lebanon strike

A new strike hit Lebanon's southern city of Tyre, state media reported.

The strike came after Israel's military said it would hit Hezbollah targets there and in Sidon, telling residents to move away at least 300 metres (985 feet) from buildings that it said were Hezbollah's military infrastructure.

Azerbaijan aid

Azerbaijan sent humanitarian aid to Iran, days after an Iranian drone attack. The aid was shipped after the presidents of the two countries spoke by phone on March 8.

Energy prices drop, stocks rally

Oil and gas prices tumbled after US President Donald Trump said "I think the war is very complete, pretty much".

World oil prices dropped by around eight percent, while the European benchmark gas price, the Dutch TTF natural gas contract, fell around 15 percent.

European stocks jumped at open on Tuesday, after Asian markets rallied and all three main indexes on Wall Street ended sharply higher at their Monday close.

Talks 'not on agenda'

Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, told PBS news that "I don't think talking with the Americans would be on our agenda anymore", adding that Tehran had a "very bitter experience" during previous negotiations.

'Not done yet'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the offensive against Iran was "not done yet".

"Our aspiration is to bring the Iranian people to cast off the yoke of tyranny; ultimately, it depends on them. But there is no doubt that with the actions taken so far, we are breaking their bones -- and we are not done yet".

Patriot in Turkey

Ankara said a US-made Patriot missile defence system would be deployed to central Turkey, a day after NATO shot down a second ballistic missile fired from Iran in Turkish airspace.

Iran targets US base in Iraq

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they targeted a US base in Iraq's Kurdistan region, the Al-Harir air base, with five missiles.

Iran vows to block oil exports

Iranian forces will not allow the export of oil from the region to US and Israeli allies as long as the war continues, Iran's Tasnim news agency quoted a spokesman for the Revolutionary Guards as saying.

Pakistan ship escorts

Pakistan's navy said its ships began escorting merchant vessels "to ensure the uninterrupted flow of national energy supplies and the security of sea lines of communication".

Pro-Iran fighters killed in Iraq

The Tehran-backed Kataeb Imam Ali armed group said four of its fighters were killed in air strikes it blamed on the US in northern Iraq, in the Debs district in Kirkuk province.

UAE intercepts attack

The United Arab Emirates said it was intercepting a missile and drone attack from Iran, hours after the Iranian foreign minister told broadcaster PBS News that his country had ruled out further talks with the United States and was prepared to continue missile attacks for "as long as needed."

US to roll back oil sanctions

"We're also waiving certain oil-related sanctions to reduce prices," Trump told reporters after his administration previously signalled it would roll back sanctions on oil exports from Russia.

Trump says war will end 'soon'

Trump suggested the Iran war could soon end, but remained vague on a timeline for stopping the attacks.

"It's going to be ended soon, and if it starts up again they'll be hit even harder," Trump said at a news conference in Florida.

Iran pushes back on timing

In response to Trump's comments, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they would "determine the end of the war" -- not the Americans.