IDF Recovers Remains of Soldier Missing Since 1982

The remains of IDF Sgt. First Class Zvi Feldman, missing since the 1982 Battle of Sultan Yacoub in the First Lebanon War, have been recovered from Syria by the IDF and Mossad. The complex covert mission was conducted deep within Syrian territory and required multiple visits to the site over several years, reportedly placing Mossad assets at risk. Feldman was one of three Israeli soldiers missing from the battle; the remains of Zachary Baumel were recovered in 2019, while Yehuda Katz remains unaccounted for. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally notified Feldman's family of the recovery and reaffirmed the nation's commitment to finding all missing soldiers. The operation was enabled by precise intelligence and involved significant coordination among Israeli intelligence and defense agencies. Officials expressed gratitude to all involved and vowed to continue efforts to locate Katz.