It remained to be seen whether the attack would ignite a regional war or provide the U.S. and Iran with an off-ramp from their intensifying confrontation.

Iran announced Monday night that it had launched an attack on American forces at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, calling it a “mighty and successful response" to U.S. aggression.

France's foreign minister on Monday accused Israel of putting two of its citizens in danger after an air strike hit Tehran's Evin prison and he said all strikes had to stop immediately to open the door to renewed diplomacy.