India, March 1 -- Iran launched 65 missiles toward Qatar late Friday, with two projectiles impacting the US-operated Al Udeid Air Base, according to Iran's Defense Ministry, marking one of the most overt and dangerous escalations between Tehran and Washington in years.

The strike, described by Iranian officials as a direct response to recent US and Israeli military actions against Iranian targets, represents a dramatic widening of a conflict that had largely unfolded through proxy forces and limited engagements. By targeting Al Udeid - the largest US military installation in the Middle East - Tehran signaled that the confrontation has entered a more direct and volatile phase.

Qatari authorities confirmed missile activity over their air...