India, June 17 -- Social media users on Monday shared photos claiming that three ships caught fire in the Gulf of Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz. While the authorities are yet to confirm these claims, here's five facts about what is the Strait of Hormuz and its significance.

The strait of Hormuz is located between Iran and Oman and links the Gulf north of it with the Gulf of Oman to the south, and the Arabian Sea beyond. It is used for exporting crude oil to Asia by members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) including Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Iraq. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have found other routes to bypass the strait.

According to the US Energy Information Adminis...