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USS Boxer, At Sea: USS Boxer (LHD 4) Expeditionary Strike Group (BOXESG) began maritime security operations (MSO) in the North Persian Gulf in support of U.S. 5th Fleet Nov. 21 through 24.
Coalition forces conduct MSO under international maritime conventions to ensure security and safety in international waters so that all commercial shipping can operate freely while transiting the region.
BOXESG has been serving alongside the Afloat Forward Staging Base Ocean 6 patrolling the waters near Al Basra Oil Terminal (ABOT) and Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal (KAAOT). Ocean 6 is the command and control platform responsible for coordinating all MSO activity with coalition forces in the region, focusing on protecting ABOT and KAAOT.
The terminals are the maritime element of Iraqi economic development, which makes them a target for terrorism.
