An Israeli airstrike on Monday hit the southern suburbs of Beirut, where Israel's army said it was targeting Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, as Lebanon reported more attacks in the country's south.

AFPTV footage showed smoke billowing across the skyline after the strike on the southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold which has largely emptied of residents following repeated Israeli attacks and evacuation warnings.

Israel's army said it was "striking Hezbollah terror targets in Beirut", after previously warning it would hit the area.

April 6 (Reuters) - Iran and the United States have received a plan to end hostilities that could come into effect on Monday and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a source aware of the proposals said on Monday.

A framework to end hostilities has been put together by Pakistan and exchanged with Iran and the U.S. overnight, the source said, outlining a two-tier approach with an immediate ceasefire followed by a comprehensive agreement.

By Samia Nakhoul and Maha El Dahan

Dubai, April 6 (Reuters) - UAE official Anwar Gargash said any settlement of the U.S.-Iran war must guarantee access through the Strait of Hormuz, warning that a deal that fails to rein in Iran’s nuclear programme and its missiles and drones would pave the way for “a more dangerous, more volatile Middle East."

SEOUL, April 6 (Reuters) - North Korea appears to be distancing itself from longtime partner Iran and carefully managing its public messaging to preserve the possibility of a new relationship with the U.S. after the Iran war, South Korean lawmakers said on Monday, citing the spy agency.

(This story contains strong language in paragraph 7)

WASHINGTON/CAIRO, April 6 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump threatened to rain "hell" on Tehran if it did not make a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz by his Tuesday deadline, as he praised U.S. special forces who rescued an airman in a high-risk mission from deep inside Iran.

SEOUL, April 6 (Reuters) - South Korea must accept a degree of risk in importing crude oil from the Middle East amid blockages of the Strait of Hormuz, President Lee Jae Myung said on Monday.

"There are not many alternative routes, and if shipments are cut off altogether because of heightened risk, it could have a serious impact on South Korea's crude supply and pose a major risk to the public, so we need to strike a balance and accept a certain degree of risk," Lee said in a cabinet meeting.

For generations, a Saudi oasis town has been a favoured spot for stressed visitors from the nearby capital Riyadh to come and decompress.

But the serenity in Saudi Arabia's Al-Kharj has been rattled after it found itself in the line of fire from Iranian attacks.

Renowned for its dates and palm-lined streets, the town also lies on the edge of the sprawling Prince Sultan Air Base.

At a roadside cafe in downtown Cairo, Abu Ali was mid domino throw when the lights snapped off under new early-closing orders enacted to curb Egypt's soaring energy bill due to the US-Israel war on Iran.

"I used to stay here until 2:00 am," the 63-year-old told AFP, tapping his tiles as the street went dark.

"Now I'm home by 11 at most, just watching the news. This is not the Cairo we know."

April 5 (Reuters) - The U.S., Iran and a group of regional mediators are discussing the terms for a potential 45-day ceasefire that could lead to a permanent end to the war, Axios reported on Sunday, citing four U.S., Israeli and regional sources with knowledge of the talks.

Reuters could not immediately verify the report. The White House and the U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

NEW YORK, April 5 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump and other U.S. officials cast the rescue of a U.S. airman in Iran as an “Easter miracle” on Sunday, framing the operation in religious terms that portrayed the war as a just cause and divinely blessed.

In the past, administrations typically issued postcard-style Easter greetings, and critics said officials' messages this time had blurred the line between faith and policy by invoking religion to justify the war and shape the military’s conduct.