New Delhi, March 2 -- Three close US allies have said they are prepared to coordinate efforts to protect their interests in the Middle East and counter Iran's retaliatory missile and drone strikes following the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Several other countries, however, expressed concern that the conflict triggered by the coordinated US-Israel attacks could escalate into a broader regional war, underscoring growing international divisions over the unfolding crisis in the Middle East.

Britain, France and Germany said they were prepared to work with the United States. "We will take steps to defend our interests and those of our allies in the region, potentially through enabling necessary and proportionate defensive...