Amid soaring Israel-Iran tensions, dramatic images on social media show three ships engulfed in flames off the Gulf of Oman near the critical Strait of Hormuz. While authenticity remains unverified, NASA’s FIRMS data also detected fires in the same zone.

Shipowner Frontline said the incident near the Strait of Hormuz was due to navigational issues and not related to the current Israel-Iran conflict.

The Foundation for Defense of Democracies, in a policy briefing published Monday, stated: “US forces in the Middle East are under attack and are defending Israel from Iranian-backed aggression. Iran’s leaders continue to threaten to close the Strait of Hormuz - a critical energy chokepoint.”