PARIS, April 2 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday it would be unrealistic to launch a military operation to force open the Strait of Hormuz, after U.S. President Donald Trump challenged U.S. allies to work towards reopening it.

"Some people defend the idea of freeing the Strait of Hormuz by force via a military operation, a position sometimes expressed by the United States, although it has varied," Macron told reporters during a trip to South Korea.

By Andrew MacAskill and Muvija M

LONDON, April 2 (Reuters) - Britain will host talks on Thursday aimed at forming a coalition of countries to explore ways to reopen the Strait of Hormuz after U.S. President Donald Trump said securing the vital waterway was a problem for other nations to resolve.

In rugged terrain along the Syrian-Lebanese border, yellow bulldozers raised earthen berms in front of armoured vehicles while soldiers combed through tunnels they said were used by Hezbollah, as Syria reinforces its side of the border.

Syria is seeking to stay out of the regional war, whose flames have reached neighbouring Lebanon, where Hezbollah is fighting a fierce conflict with Israel.

MOSCOW, April 2 (Reuters) - Russia is ready to contribute to resolving the Iran conflict and President Vladimir Putin is continuing to talk with regional leaders, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.

"The president is continuing these contacts, and if our services are somehow required, we are, of course, ready to make our contribution to ensuring that the military situation transitions to a peaceful course as soon as possible," Peskov told reporters.

MOSCOW, April 2 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin will host Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on Thursday for talks that will focus on the Iran war and the wider Middle East, as well as bilateral relations, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

(Reporting by Dmitry Antonov Writing by Maxim RodionovEditing by Mark Trevelyan)

ISLAMABAD, April 2 (Reuters) - Eight Muslim-majority countries "strongly condemned" Israel's move to pass a law making death by hanging a default sentence for Palestinians convicted in military courts of deadly attacks, a joint statement released by Pakistan said on Thursday.

Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, in the statement, also emphasised the "urgent need to refrain from measures" that risk further inflaming tensions on the ground.

By Naveen Thukral

SINGAPORE, April 2 (Reuters) - Australian farmers are expected to favour less nitrogen-intensive crops such as barley over wheat and canola in the upcoming season, as surging fertiliser and fuel costs driven by the Iran war weigh on planting decisions in one of the world's top food exporters.

Planting of wheat, canola and other crops is set to gather pace this month across much of Australia and farmers need ample supplies of crop nutrients to support early growth.

DUBAI, April 2 (Reuters) - Iran's operational headquarters must monitor "enemy movements with utmost pessimism and accuracy" and be ready to counter any method of attack, the country's army commander-in-chief Amir Hatami was quoted as saying by state media on Thursday.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said the Iran conflict is “nearing completion” and could end within weeks, but a parallel buildup of additional U.S. troops in the Gulf has raised concerns that preparations may be underway for potential ground operations.

Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war:

- Philippines claims Hormuz passage -

The Philippines said Iran has pledged to allow safe passage for shipments of oil to the import-dependent archipelago through the Strait of Hormuz.

"The Iranian Foreign Minister assured the (Foreign) Secretary that Iran will allow the safe, unhindered, and expeditious passage through the Strait of Hormuz of Philippine-flagged vessels, energy sources, and all Filipino seafarers," the foreign affairs department said in a statement.

- Nuclear 'war crime' -

By Saad Sayeed

April 2 (Reuters) - A diplomatic outcast a year ago, Pakistan has become a trusted regional partner and a mediator between the U.S. and Iran to end the war in the Middle East, a remarkable transformation for the South Asian nation driven mostly by its powerful military chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir.

Munir has had several meetings with President Donald Trump, including an unprecedented one-on-one lunch at the White House, while the government has apprehended an Islamic State bomber accused of killing American troops and handed him over to the U.S.