Iranian TV confirms hearing explosions in southern Iran

Tehran, Jan 1 (KUNA) -- Iranian state television confirmed on Tuesday evening that several explosions were heard on the outskirts of Bandar Abbas and in the village of Masan on Qeshm Island in southern Iran. The television station reported that explosions were heard on the outskirts of Bandar Abbas, four explosions originated from the direction of the Strait of Hormuz on Qeshm Island, and two others were heard in Jask, Hormozgan Province. It added that five explosions were also heard on the outskirts of Masan village on Qeshm Island, along with three explosions on the outskirts of Kanak in Sistan and Baluchestan Province in southeastern Iran. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced earlier in the day that it had begun a new round of military strikes against Iran. The statement clarified that the strikes came in response to recent offensive attempts by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, which targeted commercial navigation in the Strait of Hormuz as well as U.S. military personnel deployed in the region. (End) M.W. / M.A.A.