The US Army announced Monday that its forces have begun carrying out additional strikes against targets inside Iran, confirming that the attacks, which began at 5 p.m. Eastern Time, are aimed at further undermining Tehran's ability to attack civilian sailors and commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

In response, Iranian state television reported hearing several explosions in various areas in the south of the country, including the city of Sirik, located near the Strait of Hormuz, in addition to other explosions west of the city of Bandar Abbas, Iran's largest port on the Gulf, and on Qeshm and Jask islands.

These developments come amid an escalating confrontation between Washington and Tehran against the backdrop of growing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, with the United States asserting that its military operations target sites and capabilities used by Iran to threaten commercial navigation.

Media reports had indicated that the latest US strikes focused on military targets and facilities linked to Iran's missile and naval capabilities in areas overlooking the Strait of Hormuz, amid continued exchanges of threats and attacks between the two sides.