PM salutes Indian soldiers on Haifa Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday saluted the Indian soldiers who laid down their lives to liberate Haifa in 1918.

"On Haifa Day, I salute the brave Indian soldiers who laid down their lives to liberate Haifa in 1918," Prime Minister Modi said.

"Was pleased to visit Haifa and pay homage there in person in July," he said.

Haifa is the third largest city in Israel.

On his recent visit to Israel, Modi visited the Indian cemetery in Haifa, along with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, on July 6 and laid wreaths at the site.

During the Battle of Haifa in 1918, the Indian 15th (Imperial Service) Cavalry Brigade, 5th Cavalry Division and part of the Desert Mounted Corps attacked rear guard forces of the Ottoman Empire that resulted in the capture of the towns of Haifa and Acre.

The Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers are now represented by the 61st Cavalry Regiment in the Indian Army and still commemorate the battle every year on September 23 as Haifa Day.

--IANS

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