India, Feb. 28 -- In a dramatic escalation of hostilities that has shaken global capitals, the United States and Israel launched coordinated military strikes on targets across Iran on Saturday, marking a pivotal turning point in Middle Eastern geopolitics. Explosions were reported in the streets of Tehran and across multiple Iranian cities as jets and missile batteries rained ordnance on key military, intelligence, and government installations.

The joint offensive followed months of mounting tensions between Tehran, Washington, and Tel Aviv over Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and comes as Western deterrence strategies showed signs of strain in the face of evolving Iranian military capabilities.

Officials in both the Uni...