Israel Repatriates Body of Soldier Killed in 1982 Lebanon War

Israel has confirmed the recovery of the remains of Sgt. First Class Tzvika Feldman, an Israeli soldier missing since the 1982 battle of Sultan Yacoub during the Lebanon War. His body was located deep inside Syrian territory and returned to Israel following a clandestine joint mission conducted by the Israeli military and the Mossad intelligence agency.

The announcement on Sunday marked the culmination of an operation involving intelligence gathering and secret coordination. Feldman had been unaccounted for since Israeli forces clashed with Syrian troops in the Bekaa Valley of eastern Lebanon, near the Syrian border, more than four decades ago. Two other Israeli soldiers—Zachariah Baumel and Yehuda Katz—were also reported missing in the same incident.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged the longstanding efforts to locate Feldman and his fellow soldiers. He noted that Feldman’s return follows the repatriation of Baumel’s remains approximately six years ago. Netanyahu said he had personally informed Feldman’s parents of the recovery and reaffirmed Israel’s ongoing mission to locate Katz, who remains unaccounted for.

Extensive Intelligence and Diplomatic Coordination

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that Feldman’s identity was confirmed using DNA analysis conducted by the Genomic Identification Center for Fallen Soldiers under the Military Rabbinate. Authorities did not disclose the precise circumstances of how his body was discovered or retrieved, citing the sensitive nature of the mission.

According to official statements, the recovery was made possible by actionable intelligence and intricate operational planning. The mission required cooperation between several Israeli agencies, including the Prime Minister’s Office, the Mossad, IDF Intelligence, Shin Bet (the internal security service), and the military’s Human Resources Directorate.

The military described the mission as both highly complex and courageous, emphasizing that it involved years of intelligence groundwork. Israeli officials indicated that the remains had been held in the “heart of Syria,” suggesting the depth and risk involved in accessing the location.

The 1982 battle in which Feldman disappeared was part of Israel’s broader military campaign in Lebanon, launched to push back Palestinian militant groups operating from the region. The Sultan Yacoub encounter resulted in heavy casualties and several soldiers captured or reported missing, making it one of the more sensitive unresolved incidents from that war.

The repatriation of Feldman’s remains closes a chapter in one of Israel’s longest-standing military missing-persons cases and reinforces Israel’s policy of retrieving soldiers, regardless of how much time has passed. The operation also highlights Israel’s ongoing intelligence reach and operational capabilities within enemy territory.

Efforts to locate and return Sgt. First Class Yehuda Katz will continue, as authorities reaffirm their commitment to accounting for all missing service members from past conflicts.