Videos circulating online reportedly show iPhones and other goods floating on the sea amid escalating attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important shipping routes.
The disturbing footage has sparked reactions on social media, with claims linking the floating goods to reports that as many as 2,500 container ships sank in the waterway amid the ongoing conflict.
The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, is a critical passage for global trade, particularly oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Disruptions in the area can affect international shipping, energy supplies and the prices of goods worldwide.
Attacks and threats against commercial vessels in the region have raised concerns about the safety of seafarers, cargo shipments and maritime operations. Any significant disruption could also increase shipping costs and delay deliveries of electronics, food and other consumer products.