Israel recovers remains of soldier killed in 1982 Lebanon war

Israel has successfully retrieved the remains of a soldier who died during its 1982 invasion of Lebanon, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Tuesday. The operation, conducted jointly by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and the Mossad intelligence agency, recovered the remains of Sgt. 1st Class Yehuda Yekutiel Katz, an Armored Corps fighter who fell at the Battle of Sultan Yacoub in June 1982. Netanyahu described the recovery as the culmination of decades of intelligence and military efforts, bringing closure to a case that had remained unresolved for over four decades.

Decades-long search concludes

The Battle of Sultan Yacoub took place on June 11, 1982, in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley near the Syrian border, marking the sixth day of Israel's military campaign. The engagement involved Syrian and Israeli forces, alongside Palestinian Liberation Organization fighters and Lebanese armed groups. According to Israeli media reports, 20 Israeli soldiers were killed, dozens wounded, and six went missing during the battle. Over the years, Israeli security forces have systematically worked to account for all missing personnel. Katz's recovery follows the repatriation of Sgt. 1st Class Zachary Baumel approximately seven years ago and Sgt. 1st Class Zvi Feldman in May 2025.

Intelligence-driven recovery operation

The Israeli military confirmed that Katz's remains were located through targeted intelligence-gathering efforts, part of a broader series of operations spanning more than four decades. Public broadcaster KAN had earlier reported the discovery prior to the official announcement. The recovery marks the final chapter in a national effort to bring closure to families affected by the 1982 conflict, underscoring Israel's continued commitment to repatriating its fallen soldiers regardless of the passage of time. Netanyahu's office emphasized that all six soldiers missing from the battle have now been accounted for.