The multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge, along with embarked Marines from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived in Eilat, Israel for a regularly scheduled port visit, May 14.
It is the first time a U.S. naval ship has docked there in 14 years.
The Kearsarge, 257 meters long vessel has approximately 1,800 marines, 20 V-22 helicopters and Harrier fighters.
The vessel stopped for several days of routine maintenance in the framework of the cooperation between the Israeli and US navies.
USS Kearsarge is the flagship of the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), which includes the dock landing ship USS Carter Hall and the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio.
The visit was planned in advance and is not connected to tensions in the region, said an Israeli Defense Forces spokeswoman.
The Israeli Navy is hosting the Kearsarge's sailors, who will be touring the country until their departure.
