Greater Tunb Island
Why in News?
Greater Tunb Island is heavily in the news because the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) launched intensive, 90-minute daylight airstrikes targeting Iranian coastal defence batteries and cruise missile installations located on the island.
Geography, Location and Sovereignty Dispute
- Strategic Coordinates: It is a tiny island measuring roughly 10.3 square kilometres situated in the Persian Gulf.
- Choke Point Sentinel: It sits directly at the entrance of the narrow Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime gateway through which roughly 20% (one-fifth) of global oil supplies pass daily.
- The Trio: Greater Tunb, alongside Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa, forms a group of three highly contested islands.
- The 1971 Takeover: The Iranian military seized control of these islands in November 1971, just as British forces were withdrawing from the region.
- UAE Claims: The UAE considers the islands an integral part of its sovereign territory (originally belonging to the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah) and formally labels Iran's decades-long administration as an illegal occupation.
Militarization as an "Unsinkable Aircraft Carrier"
- Garrison Fortifications: Under de facto Iranian control, the island has been heavily fortified by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
- Tactical Advantage: Iran uses its network of islands to blanket the commercial shipping lanes with surveillance radars, fast-attack speedboats, kamikaze drones, and anti-ship missiles.
- Control of the Gulf: Analysts note that controlling Greater Tunb provides immense military leverage, allowing any occupying force to effectively monitor or completely freeze maritime traffic entering or exiting the Arabian Gulf.
The Seven-Island "Arch Defence" Network
Greater Tunb is a key component of Iran’s protective maritime arc. The primary islands structuring this defensive layout include:
Greater Tunb is a key component of Iran’s protective maritime arc. The primary islands structuring this defensive layout include:
| Island | Key Strategic Features | Status |
| Greater Tunb | Hosts cruise missile storage, coastal batteries, and radar installations. | Disputed (Controlled by Iran / Claimed by UAE) |
| Lesser Tunb | Acts as an observation outpost overlooking main transit routes. | Disputed (Controlled by Iran / Claimed by UAE) |
| Abu Musa | Features a 3-kilometre runway capable of handling fighter jets and heavy cargo planes. | Disputed (Controlled by Iran / Claimed by UAE) |
| Qeshm & Hormuz | House underground hardened bunkers for drone swarms and fast attack boats. | Iranian Territory |
