Haifa: Two Indian warships are on a four-day goodwill visit to this northern coastal city to reaffirm old ties with Israel.
The two ships -- INS Mumbai and INS Brahmaputra -- from the Navy's western fleet have modern weaponry, electronic sensors and missile systems, and both carry a 'seaking' anti-submarine helicopters as well as Chetak helicopter in their twin hangars.
"The visit shows the importance India attaches to the growing Indo-Israeli relations and continued cooperation and engagement between the two countries is expected to grow", a release said.
"Indian warships have regularly paid visits to ports in the West Asia and East Africa reaffirming their peaceful presence and solidarity with countries in the region", it said.
Indian ships last visited the port city in 2004. The current visit kicked off yesterday when the two warships anchored at the Haifa coast.
India last month sent INS Tabar, a guided missile frigate, to Indonesia to provide food and relief material in the aftermath of the earthquake.