India, Feb. 28 -- The United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on targets across Iran on Saturday in an operation the Pentagon has named "Operation Epic Fury". The attacks, which reportedly targeted senior Iranian leadership and key facilities, marked a sharp escalation in tensions in West Asia and triggered immediate retaliation from Tehran.

According to reports, Iran responded by launching missiles at Israel and at several Gulf Arab nations that host American military bases. Bahrain said a missile targeted the headquarters of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet in the island kingdom. Explosions were also reported in Kuwait, Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Dubai as the situation intensified across the Gulf.

An Israeli official, cited in a Reut...