The West Asia conflict expanded to include Iran-backed militias on Monday with an attack by Hezbollah on Israel. Israel struck back against the group in Lebanon while the United States pounded targets in Iran.

President Donald Trump reports joint strikes have destroyed 44 Iranian ships and 'every plane,' calling for Iran to surrender as gas price concerns mount at home.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has told a White House event the US is striking Iranian drone and missile systems "every single hour".

By Maya Gebeily, Humeyra Pamuk and Alexander Cornwell BEIRUT/WASHINGTON/TEL AVIV, March 7 (Reuters) - Israel and Iran traded more attacks as a Middle East war entered a second week on Saturday, and Iran's president apologised to neighbouring states in a bid to cool anger across the Gulf but stirred criticism from hardliners at home.

Earlier, Iranian state media had reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps said it had targeted the Haifa oil refinery in response. IDF sources confirmed to The Jerusalem Post on Saturday

Explosions are sending up plumes of smoke in Iran's capital city as the United States says the most intense bombing of the weeklong campaign is coming.

Tension in the Middle East continue to escalate as Iran-aligned Iraqi militias expand targets from military bases to oil facilities, threatening regional stability.

With the conflict spreading, Israel warned Lebanon of a "very heavy price" if it did not rein in Hezbollah, as it pounded the group's strongholds with airstrikes and mounted a deadly airborne raid in the east.