Israel Recovers Remains of Soldier Missing Since 1982 Lebanon War in Special IDF-Mossad Operation.
Jerusalem:
Israel has recovered the remains of an Armored Corps soldier who went missing during the First Lebanon War in 1982, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced, describing the operation as a significant step in the country’s long-running efforts to bring home soldiers who remain missing in action.
In a statement, Netanyahu said the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Mossad had conducted a special operation to recover the remains of Sgt. First Class Yehuda Yekutiel Katz, who fell during the Battle of Sultan Yacoub in June 1982.
Katz was one of three Israeli soldiers who went missing following the battle at Sultan Yacoub during the First Lebanon War. His recovery comes after years of efforts by Israeli authorities to determine the fate and location of the missing soldiers.
Netanyahu said that Israel had previously recovered the remains of Sgt. First Class Zachary Baumel, who was returned to Israel for burial about seven years ago, and Sgt. First Class Zvi Feldman, whose remains were recovered and returned in May 2025.
“Not for a moment did we cease the work to return Sgt. First Class Yehuda Katz,” Netanyahu said, adding that he had authorised numerous covert operations over the years aimed at locating the missing soldiers of Sultan Yacoub.
The prime minister said he had promised the families of the missing soldiers that Israel would continue its efforts until they were brought home.
Netanyahu expressed condolences and solidarity with the Katz family, noting that Yehuda’s parents, Sarah and Yosef, had worked tirelessly to locate their son and secure his return but had died before seeing him brought home.
He said Yehuda would now be returned to his siblings, Avi and Perachia, and to Israel for burial.
The prime minister thanked the IDF, Mossad, Shin Bet and the Coordinator for the Hostages and the Missing for their years of efforts and for what he described as determined and courageous action to recover Katz and continue efforts to bring home all Israeli missing persons and hostages, both living and deceased.
Netanyahu reaffirmed that the Israeli government would continue pursuing the recovery of missing soldiers and hostages.
“The State of Israel and the Government of Israel under my leadership remain committed to this task, and will continue to carry it out,” he said.
Concluding his statement, Netanyahu invoked the biblical prophet Jeremiah, quoting a passage expressing hope for the future and the return of children to their homeland.
The recovery of Katz’s remains marks another major development in Israel’s decades-long efforts to resolve the fate of the soldiers who disappeared during the Sultan Yacoub battle, one of the most difficult episodes involving Israeli forces during the 1982 Lebanon War.
