- Three strategically vital islands – Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb – located at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, have become a focal point in the escalating US military campaign against Iran, with recent US strikes targeting two of them.
- Iran seized these islands from what would become the United Arab Emirates in 1971, and they now serve as critical Iranian garrisons, enabling Tehran to exert significant influence over the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global energy chokepoint.
- The islands, despite their small size, host Iranian military installations including fast boats, missiles, and air defence systems, which have historically been used to monitor and harass vessels in the strait, as seen during the 'Tanker War' of the 1980s.
- Analysts speculate about a potential US invasion of the islands, though experts warn of significant challenges, including exposure to Iranian ballistic missiles and drones, making force protection an enormous hurdle even with air support.
- The United Arab Emirates has actively lobbied international powers like China and Russia to support a resolution to the islands' ownership dispute through negotiations or international court decisions, highlighting the global strategic importance of this long-standing territorial claim.
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