Buffeted by six weeks of war in the Middle East, airlines have scrambled to trim routes and costs as fuel bills explode and wary clients think twice about their travel plans, a situation that could persist even if a fragile truce holds.

Carriers have largely halted flights in the Gulf region, with Air France announcing this week that it was extending its suspensions until May 3 -- a decision a source said was made before this week's ceasefire between the United States and Iran.

DUBAI, April 9 (Reuters) - More than 3,000 people were killed throughout Iran during the war that began on February 28, Iran's forensic chief told state media on Thursday, adding that 40% of the dead needed forensic work to be identified and returned to families.

(Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; Editing by Alex Richardson)

BRUSSELS, April 9 (Reuters) - The ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran should extend to Lebanon, EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas said on Thursday, adding that Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah must disarm.

"Israeli actions are putting the U.S.-Iran ceasefire under severe strain. The Iran truce should extend to Lebanon," Kallas said in a post on X.

"Israeli strikes killed hundreds last night, making it hard to argue that such heavy-handed actions fall within self-defence," she also said.

By Angelo Amante and Giuseppe Fonte

ROME, April 9 (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Thursday that restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz was of vital interest for her country and the European Union, as she pledged to work with partners to achieve that aim.

Following U.S.- Israeli attacks, Iran restricted traffic through the Strait to pressure its enemies, in a move that drove up energy prices as around a fifth of the world's oil and gas pass through the narrow waterway.

The Israeli military said on Thursday that an Al Jazeera journalist killed a day earlier in an Israeli strike in Gaza was a Hamas militant who had "operated under the guise of a journalist".

On Wednesday, the Qatar-based broadcaster said in a statement that it strongly condemned "the heinous crime of targeting and killing Al Jazeera Mubasher correspondent Mohammed Wishah, following a strike on the vehicle in which he was travelling west of the Gaza Strip".

ROME, April 9 (Reuters) - European Union authorities should consider a temporary suspension of budget deficit rules if the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran flares up again, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told parliament on Thursday.

Meloni also said her government was ready to take every possible measure to prevent potential speculative behaviour on energy prices, including introducing windfall taxes on energy companies.

BEIJING, April 9 (Reuters) - China's foreign ministry said it hoped the "relevant parties can grasp this chance at peace and bring the region back to stability as soon as possible" after the U.S. and Iran agreed to a ceasefire in the weeks-long Middle East war.

China said it has maintained communication with all parties and "actively sought to promote reconciliation and prevent further fighting," foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in a daily press briefing.

The latest developments in the Middle East war:

- Air raid sirens in Israel -

Air raid alerts sounded across Israel, including in the commercial hub of Tel Aviv and the southern coastal city of Ashdod, after rocket fire from Lebanon.

There were no immediate reports of casualties, but Israeli media reported that air-defence systems had intercepted at least one incoming rocket.

Earlier Friday, Hezbollah said it had launched three waves of rocket and drone strikes against Israeli soldiers on both sides of the border as well as a town in northern Israel.

MADRID, April 9 (Reuters) - Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares on Thursday accused Israel of violating international law and a newly brokered two-week ceasefire in the Middle East by carrying out airstrikes on Lebanon on Wednesday.

Spain has emerged as one of the most vocal critics among Western nations of U.S. and Israeli actions in Iran and Lebanon, closing its airspace to any aircraft involved in a conflict Madrid has called reckless and illegal.

PARIS, April 9 (Reuters) - The ceasefire agreed by Iran and the United States must also cover military actions in Lebanon, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Thursday, adding France condemned "massive" Israeli strikes the previous day.

Barrot added that he expects Iran to make a series of concessions as part of the peace talks due to start in Pakistan.