Multinational efforts to protect Gulf shipping
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A growing number of countries are taking part in naval missions in the Middle East to safeguard shipping lanes amid continuing tensions with Iran
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USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier with UK and U.S. destroyers transiting Strait of Hormuz, Nov 19
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June 19: Pentagon announces plans for Operation Sentinel – multinational maritime security effort – after alleged Iranian attacks on oil tankers near Strait of Hormuz
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June 21: India says it is deploying two warships to Gulf to protect Indian-flagged shipping
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July 24: Royal Navy begins escorting UK- flagged ships in Strait of Hormuz after Iran seizes British vessel
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Nov 7: Launch of Operation Sentinel to protect key Middle East waterways, with participants from U.S., UK, Australia, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and UAE
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Nov 25: Kuwait and Qatar say they will join U.S.-led coalition
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Nov 25: Netherlands says it will send ship to join French-led naval mission in Strait of Hormuz starting in January
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Dec 5: Japan proposes sending escort ship to Middle East to guard Japanese merchant 
vessels
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Shipping lanes
IRAQ KUWAIT
The Gulf
BAHRAIN
IRAN
Strait of Hormuz
UAE
Gulf of Oman
SAUDI ARABIA
QATAR
OMAN
Gulf of Aden
Bab el-Mandeb Strait
YEMEN
Arabian Sea
300km 185 miles
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Sources: Reuters, BBC Picture: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS