Ships from which of the following countries have to cross the Strait of Hormuz to reach out to the Indian Ocean ? 1. Bahrain 2. Syria 3. Qatar 4. Egypt

The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and onwards to the Arabian Sea/Indian Ocean. Countries located on the Persian Gulf must pass through this strait to reach the Indian Ocean. Bahrain (island nation in Persian Gulf) and Qatar (peninsula in Persian Gulf) must cross the Strait of Hormuz. Syria borders the Mediterranean Sea, so its ships go through the Suez Canal route, not Hormuz. Egypt has access to both the Mediterranean (north) and Red Sea (east); ships reach the Indian Ocean via the Suez Canal and Bab-el-Mandeb, not Hormuz. Hence only 1 and 3 are correct.