On Thursday, the map of strikes inside Iran expanded, with reports of attacks hitting military and naval sites from Bushehr in the south to Konarak on the Gulf of Oman coast, following a second night of US operations that extended to an airport, two railway bridges, and navigation-related facilities.

Iran's official news agency IRNA reported that a projectile struck a military base in the outskirts of Bushehr, while another Iranian news agency quoted a local official saying a site belonging to the Iranian Navy in Konarak was attacked, coinciding with the sound of three explosions in the coastal city.

However, a US defense official said the US military is not currently conducting any strikes on Iran, raising ambiguity about the timing of some attacks and the perpetrators, amid rapidly evolving developments and conflicting field reports.

IRNA quoted Bushehr Deputy Governor Ehsan Jahaniyan as saying, 'A military base in the outskirts of Bushehr was attacked and struck by a projectile fired by the American-Zionist enemy a short while ago.'

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In southeastern Iran, Mehr news agency reported hearing three explosions in Konarak, Sistan and Baluchistan province, while a local official mentioned targeting a site belonging to the Iranian Navy.

Konarak holds strategic importance due to its location on the Makran coast overlooking the Gulf of Oman and its connection to Iranian military and naval facilities, in a region that has become a key target area in recent hours.

In contrast, Iranian state television denied reports of explosions in Bandar Abbas, Qeshm, Sirik, and Jask, confirming no explosions were recorded in those areas as of the time of the broadcast.

CNN also quoted a US official as saying the US military 'is not currently conducting any strikes,' after news circulated about new explosions inside Iran.

Expanding target map

The new developments followed a second night of US operations, during which the range of targets inside Iran widened to include military sites and facilities related to transportation and navigation.

In Iranshahr, local authorities announced the death of a firefighter following an attack on airport facilities, noting damage to the aviation equipment building and the meteorological station.

In a notable development, Axios quoted a US official as saying the US Air Force bombed two railway bridges inside Iran overnight, indicating an expansion of operations to infrastructure related to transportation.

Also, the director of the Chabahar Free Zone announced damage to the maritime navigation control tower in Chabahar as a result of recent US airstrikes.

Thus, the target map extended within hours from military and naval sites to an airport, two railway bridges, and navigation-related facilities, a field shift reflecting the expanding scope of operations inside Iran.

Hormuz at the heart of the confrontation

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) had announced additional strikes against Iran, aiming to 'further degrade its ability to threaten freedom of navigation' in the Strait of Hormuz, holding Tehran responsible for attacks targeting commercial ships and their civilian crews.

Reuters quoted a US official, who requested anonymity, as saying that the US strikes would be more numerous than those carried out the previous day, indicating an escalation in the pace of military operations.

The escalation came after attacks targeted three commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, which Washington said its new operations were in response to, while Tehran did not claim responsibility for those attacks.

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Parallel to field developments, Axios reported, citing US officials, that the White House is preparing for a possible confrontation that could last days or even weeks with Iran, as the Strait of Hormuz becomes a central axis in the escalation.

The site quoted a US official as saying the current confrontation could last 'a day or two, or a week or a month,' depending on Iran's next steps and whether Tehran continues targeting commercial ships in the strait.

According to Axios, the war that began with the aim of weakening Iran's missile capabilities and destroying what remains of its nuclear program has evolved into an open confrontation over one of the world's most important energy corridors, with the diplomatic track faltering and military pressure returning to the forefront of US President Donald Trump's strategy.

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Trump had announced that the 60-day ceasefire stipulated in the memorandum of understanding with Iran had 'ended,' following the exchange of strikes after the attacks on commercial ships.

Despite the escalation, Trump later said that Iranian officials had contacted Washington seeking an agreement, but he doubted Tehran's ability to commit to any new understanding.

In response, Iran maintained its stance on the strait, with Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf affirming that Hormuz will only open under 'Iranian arrangements, not under US threats.'

With the strikes extending from Bushehr to Konarak, and military and naval sites, an airport, railway bridges, and navigation facilities entering the operations map, the confrontation enters a broader field phase, as the Strait of Hormuz gradually becomes the center of the conflict between Washington and Tehran.