UN chief Antonio Guterres said Saturday on a visit to Beirut that diplomatic channels remained open to end the war between Israel and Hezbollah and urged the international community to support Lebanon.
Lebanon was dragged into the Middle East war last week when Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes, and the Tehran-backed group's leader has said the militants were ready for a long confrontation with Israel.
On Saturday, Israel kept up strikes on Lebanon as Hezbollah claimed attacks against northern Israel and Beirut said the death toll in the country since March 2 had climbed to 826, including 106 children.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said late on Saturday they had launched a missile salvo at US forces stationed at a major base in Saudi Arabia's Al-Kharj.
The Guards said the base was being used to equip "F-35 and F-16 fighter jets and is the storage place for fuel tankers".
While there has been no immediate confirmation of the attack from Saudi Arabia, the kingdom's defence ministry said earlier it intercepted six ballistic missiles headed towards Al-Kharj.
Lebanese militant group Hezbollah said it was involved in "direct clashes" with Israeli forces in the southern Lebanese town of Khiam late on Saturday.
In a statement, it said the clashes were ongoing, having started at 9:20 pm (1920 GMT) and involved "light and medium weapons as well as rocket-propelled projectiles".
It said it had also targeted Israeli forces in three border villages.
France's foreign ministry said Saturday there was "no French plan" to stop the fighting in Lebanon between Israeli forces and Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.
"France has supported the Lebanese authorities' openness to direct talks with Israel and has offered to facilitate them," said a ministry statement sent to AFP.
"But it is for the parties, and only the parties, to set the agenda for these talks," it added.
Police have arrested three people in Kuwait for using camera drones, authorities said on Saturday, after the country warned against filming and spreading information about Iranian strikes.
"Three people were arrested for using aerial camera drones in violation of warnings and instructions," the government's communications centre said.
Lebanon is preparing to form a delegation to negotiate with Israel in a bid to stop the war with Iran-backed Hezbollah, according to a report by AFP.
The report, which quoted an official, said that there was still no Israeli commitment to the initiative.
"Negotiations are on the table and preparations are underway to form a delegation, but... neither the timing nor the location has been determined, with Paris and Cyprus being considered," the official said.
"We also need an Israeli commitment to a truce," the official added.
An Axios report on Saturday cited sources as saying the French government had drafted a plan to end the war in Lebanon that would require the government in Beirut to officially recognise Israel.
US President Donald Trump on Saturday said countries that rely on oil carried through the Hormuz strait should take responsibility for keeping the passage open -- with American help.
"The United States of America has beaten and completely decimated Iran, both Militarily, Economically, and in every other way, but the Countries of the World that receive Oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage, and we will help -- A LOT!" he said on social media.
"The US will also coordinate with those Countries so that everything goes quickly, smoothly, and well."
Bahrain's interior ministry said on Saturday that six people were arrested for allegedly posting videos and spreading misinformation about Iranian attacks on the country.
"Six people were arrested and referred to the public prosecution for posting videos about the effects of the Iranian aggression, praising its hostile actions and spreading false news," the ministry said.
Several drones struck Kuwait's international airport on Saturday and hit its radar system but did not injure anyone, the country's civil aviation authority said.
"Kuwait International Airport was targeted by several drones this evening, which struck its radar system," the authority said. "Thankfully, no injuries were recorded."
DAY 16 | TOP DEVELOPMENTS
The West Asia war with the United States and Israel intensifying strikes on Iranian military and strategic infrastructure, including targets linked to Tehran’s oil export network. Washington has warned that Iran’s energy facilities could be targeted if Tehran disrupts shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
'No problem with supreme leader': Iran's foreign minister said that there was "no problem" with the Islamic republic's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who US officials say was wounded.
'New genocide': Turkey expressed deep concern Saturday over Israel's ongoing strikes on Lebanon over concerns it would commit "a new genocide" under the guise of fighting Hezbollah.
Lebanon death toll: Lebanon says Israeli strikes since March 2 have killed 826 people
Trump urges to secure Hormuz Strait: US President Donald Trump urged other nations to send ships to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, the critical chokepoint for global oil supplies disrupted by the Mideast war.
Iran threatens US oil targets: Following the Kharg Island attack, Iran’s military command reiterated its threat to strike US-linked oil and energy facilities in the region if the Islamic Republic’s oil infrastructure were hit.