Explainer: Why three disputed islands matter in the Strait of Hormuz

US strikes have targeted military infrastructure on Greater Tunb, one of three disputed islands in the Strait of Hormuz claimed by both Iran and the UAE. Washington says the strikes hit cruise missile storage and coastal defence systems, aiming to curb Iran's ability to threaten shipping in the vital waterway. The islands, Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa, have been under Iranian control since 1971, despite claims from the UAE's Sharjah and Ras al-Khaimah emirates. Their strategic position, roughly 70 kilometres from Iran's coast, allows Tehran to monitor and threaten one of the world's busiest shipping routes.

Al Jazeera's Lina Abu Akleh explains.

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