The US and Albania concluded a five day-long military exercise. The military exercise, code-named PHIBLEX 04-5, began March 8. 6,300 US Navy sailors and US Marines conducted an amphibious exercise along Albanias coast. The main group participating in the exercise was Expeditionary Strike Group Two (USS Wasp Expeditionary Strike Group plus the 22nd Marines Expeditionary Unit). The cruisers USS Leyte Gulf and Yorktown supported the operation. Albanian troops participating in the exercise received training in maritime interdiction, to include training in how to board and search ships at sea.