According to a report by The Times of Israel, the body of Sgt. First Class Zvi Feldman, who went missing during the 1982 First Lebanon War, has been recovered and returned to Israel following a covert operation conducted by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Mossad intelligence agency, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced.
Feldman was last seen during the Battle of Sultan Yacoub, a fierce clash between the IDF and the Syrian army in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley nearly 43 years ago. The battle resulted in the deaths of 21 Israeli soldiers and left over 30 others wounded. Feldman was one of three Israeli servicemen reported missing in the aftermath, alongside Sgt. First Class Yehuda Katz and Sgt. First Class Zachary Baumel. Baumel’s remains were located and brought back to Israel in 2019.
“For decades, Zvika was missing, and the efforts to locate him, along with the other missing soldiers from that same battle, never ceased for a moment,” said Netanyahu in an official statement. He praised the dedication of the Israeli security forces involved in the recovery operation and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to accounting for all missing soldiers. “We will not stop until Katz is also returned,” he added.
No additional information was released regarding the nature or timeline of the operation that led to Feldman’s recovery. The Prime Minister’s Office, the IDF, and the Mossad declined to comment further on the specifics, citing operational sensitivity.
The return of Feldman’s body brings closure to a decades-long chapter in Israel’s military history and serves as a solemn reminder of the enduring impact of the 1982 conflict. The battle of Sultan Yacoub remains one of the most poignant engagements of the Lebanon War, symbolizing both the intensity of the fighting and the human cost involved.
Feldman’s family has been informed, and arrangements for his burial are expected to be made in the coming days. His return is likely to resonate across Israel, where the fates of missing soldiers are deeply woven into the national consciousness. Efforts to locate and repatriate the remains of Yehuda Katz continue.