190308-N-RG171-1035 SUEZ CANAL (March 8, 2019) The Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Florida (SSGN 728) transits the Suez Canal, March 8, 2019. U.S. 5th Fleet's area of operations encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman and parts of the Indian Ocean. This expanse, comprised of 20 countries, includes three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb at the southern tip of Yemen. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Will Hardy/Released)