US-Iran war LIVE updates: Iran warns US ground troops will be ‘set on fire’; Regional powers meet in Pakistan for talks to end the war; Netanyahu says Israel will widen its invasion of southern Lebanon

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Welcome to our live coverage of the war in the Middle East, as the conflict enters its fifth week with no sign of easing.

Here’s a recap of key developments:

• Iran has warned the US against a ground invasion, saying it will set American troops “on fire”.
• The comments come as thousands of service members have arrived in the Middle East.
• Pakistan has hosted talks with Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt on ways to bring “an early and permanent” end to the war.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday he had ordered the military to further expand its operations in southern Lebanon, citing continued rocket fire by Hezbollah.
• The war has caused havoc to the world’s economy, with fuel prices in Australia continuing to surge.
• Victorians and Tasmanians will receive free temporary public transport in a bid to ease pressure at the fuel pump, but there are no such plans for NSW residents.

Iran on Sunday warned of retaliation after Israeli airstrikes hit several universities, including ones that Israel claimed were used for nuclear research and development.

The paramilitary Revolutionary Guard warned that Iran would consider Israeli universities and branches of US universities in the region “legitimate targets” unless offered safety assurances for Iranian universities, state media reported.

US colleges have campuses in Qatar and the UAE, including Georgetown, New York and Northwestern universities.

“If the US government wants its universities in the region spared, it should condemn the bombardment” of Iranian universities by midday Monday,” the Guard said in a statement.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said dozens of universities and research centres have been hit, among them the Iran University of Science and Technology and Isfahan University of Technology.

AP

The foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt met today to discuss “possible ways to bring an early and permanent end to the war” in the Middle East, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said.

The warring parties did not take part in the talks, the New York Times reported.

The initial discussions in Islamabad focused on proposals to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Dar said the meeting had ended but gave no indication if any progress was made. Further discussions could be held tomorrow.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday he had ordered the military to further expand its operations in southern Lebanon, citing continued rocket fire by Hezbollah.

Israel said last week it was enlarging a “buffer zone” up to the Litani River. It was not immediately clear whether Netanyahu was referring to that area or to the seizure of additional territory.

“I have now instructed to further expand the existing security zone in order to finally thwart the threat of invasion and to push the anti-tank missile fire away from our border,” Netanyahu said in a video statement from Israeli Northern Command.

His office declined to provide further details, and the matter has not yet been discussed by the security cabinet.

Reuters

Dramatic video footage emerged today of an Israeli chemical facility in Ne’ot Hovav being struck during a missile attack.

The footage shows a powerful blast followed by towering flames and thick plumes of black smoke rising from the industrial site, located near the city of Be’er Sheva, in southern Israel.

Israeli authorities confirmed the facility was hit amid ongoing exchanges with Iran, though it remains unclear whether the damage was caused by a direct strike or falling debris from an intercepted missile.

Emergency services rushed to the scene, with officials warning the public to steer clear due to concerns over hazardous materials. The area is known for housing chemical and industrial plants, prompting initial fears of a potential toxic leak.

The incident comes as Israel continues to fend off multiple missile salvos from Iran.

A top Iranian official has warned the US against a ground invasion, threatening to “set them on fire”.

As the first contingent of 3500 US service members arrived in the region, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of Iran’s parliament, said his forces were waiting to “set them on fire and punish their regional partners forever”.

“We are certain we can punish America and make it regret ever considering an attack on Iran.”

Ghalibaf accused Washington of secretly planning a ground invasion while talking of negotiation.

“The enemy, openly, sends messages of negotiation and dialogue, but secretly is planning a ground attack,” Ghalibaf said.

“As long as the Americans seek Iran’s surrender, our response is that we will never accept humiliation,” he said in a defiant message to the nation.

Welcome to our live coverage of the war in the Middle East, as the conflict enters its fifth week with no sign of easing.

Here’s a recap of key developments:

• Iran has warned the US against a ground invasion, saying it will set American troops “on fire”.
• The comments come as thousands of service members have arrived in the Middle East.
• Pakistan has hosted talks with Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt on ways to bring “an early and permanent” end to the war.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday he had ordered the military to further expand its operations in southern Lebanon, citing continued rocket fire by Hezbollah.
• The war has caused havoc to the world’s economy, with fuel prices in Australia continuing to surge.
• Victorians and Tasmanians will receive free temporary public transport in a bid to ease pressure at the fuel pump, but there are no such plans for NSW residents.