41.   Egypt and France have tried to mediate the dispute over the islands, which are on a major shipping lane in the Red Sea between the two countries.

42.   Egypt, to the north, views shipping lanes in the Red Sea to be of strategic importance.

43.   Egypt has always viewed the security of shipping lanes in the Red Sea as strategically important.

44.   Eritrea and Yemen both claim the three islands, which sit astride major shipping lanes at the southern end of the Red Sea.

45.   Eritrea and Yemen have a longstanding dispute over three islands that lie between them in the Red Sea and astride major shipping lanes.

46.   Egypt has always viewed the security of shipping lanes at the southern entrance of the Red Sea to be important.

47.   Egypt has always viewed the security of shipping lanes in the Red Sea to be of strategic importance.

48.   Egypt views shipping lanes in the Red Sea to be of strategic importance.

49.   Eritrea is also feuding with Yemen across the Red Sea over the ownership of Greater and Lesser Hannish islands, which stride major shipping lanes.

50.   France has suggested that both Yemen and Eritrea station troops on the islands, which are located along major shipping lanes at the opening of the Red Sea.