After more than four decades: 'Princess of the Flotilla' on its way to the depths

After 44 years of service, the missile ship INS Keshet ('Princess of the Flotilla') completed its operational role and returned to Haifa port. The ship, which took part in the First Lebanon War, may become a museum exhibit or be sunk at sea.

After 44 years of service and operational activity in numerous arenas, the missile ship INS Keshet, known as the 'Princess of the Flotilla', has completed its operational role. The ship returned for the last time to Haifa port last Wednesday, and all Navy ships saluted it in a farewell procession. INS Keshet was launched in May 1982, just months before the First Lebanon War, and took part in strikes on Beirut and northern Lebanon and in imposing the naval blockade on the ports of Beirut and Tripoli. In the Navy, they say the nickname 'Princess of the Flotilla' was given to it due to a wide range of operations, most of which are classified. In the last three years, despite its advanced age, it was the oldest combat ship in the Navy and accumulated the highest number of combat and operational hours among the Navy's ships. Now its fate is being considered: it may be sunk in the depths of the sea or become a museum exhibit.