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.”

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.

Two oil tankers collided and caught fire on Tuesday near the Strait of Hormuz. The incident occurred amid a surge in electronic interference in the region, attributed to the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel, according to a Reuters report. No injuries to the crew or oil spillage were reported.