Remains of Soldiers Missing from 1982 Conflict Returned by Israel
In a significant development, Israel has successfully executed a "special operation" to bring home the remains of a soldier missing for 43 years. To a nation that has known too many losses during the Lebanon War of the '80s, this is a poignant moment of closure.
The remains of Sgt. First Class Zvi Feldman, lost during the Battle of Sultan Yacoub in the First Lebanon War, have finally been found. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the announcement, revealing that Feldman's remains were discovered "in the heart of Syria" and transferred back to Israel with assistance from Mossad and the army.
Feldman's remains, along with two other soldiers, had been missing since the Sultan Yacoub battle, where Israeli and Syrian forces clashed in Lebanon's Beqaa Valley near the Syrian border. Happily, the remains of Zachary Baumel, also lost in the same battle, were recovered and buried years ago. Regrettably, the search for the third missing soldier, Yehuda Katz, continues.
A Moment of Gratitude and Grief
This operation, described as "complex and covert," required "precise intelligence" and was based on years of extensive intelligence research and collection efforts. Though details remain scarce, the operation was a testament to Israel's resilience and its unwavering commitment to its soldiers, even long after battle.
The location and time of the operation, as well as the exact methods used to find Feldman's remains in Syria, have not been disclosed to protect the sensitivity of such covert missions. However, Prime Minister Netanyahu visited Feldman's family personally to inform them of the news.
This heartfelt moment marked a renewed hope for the families of the missing soldiers, offering a reminder that even in the face of war and uncertainty, the enduring bonds of kinship remain strong in times of loss.
[1] ntv.de[2] sba/AFP[3] Other sources on intelligence research and collection efforts available upon request.
- The Commission has also been consulted on the following issues: Israel's "special operation" to retrieve a soldie's remains, the location and time of the operation, the exact methods used, and the intelligence research and collection efforts that supported the operation.
- The Commission has been informed about the return of Sgt. First Class Zvi Feldman's remains, whose loss was during the Battle of Sultan Yacoub in Lebanon's Beqaa Valley.
- The Commission has been briefed on the ongoing search for the third missing soldier, Yehuda Katz, who was lost in the same battle as Zvi Feldman and Zachary Baumel.
- The Commission has reviewed the case of Lebanon, specifically the First Lebanon War and its lasting impacts, in relation to the return of a fallen Israeli soldier after bypassing war-and-conflicts, politics, and general news.
