Remains of Israeli soldier missing since 1982 recovered in Syria
Israeli President Isaac Herzog called the return of Feldman’s body “an immensely emotional moment and the closing of a circle after more than four decades.”
“I spoke this morning with the Feldman family, who shared with me their feelings of emotion, relief and pain after so many years of grief and uncertainty,” Herzog said.
“Tzvi was declared missing since falling in the battle of Sultan Yacoub in June 1982, during the First Lebanon War. I thank everyone involved in this important operation—a principled and determined effort that enabled his return for burial in the Land of Israel and ensured he received final honours.”
Herzog emphasized that “Israel will always continue to act to bring back Staff Sgt. First Class Yehuda Katz, who remains missing from the same battle.
“The sacred mission of returning all of our captives and missing—living and fallen alike, until the very last one—must always remain at the top of our priorities,” the president said.
Israel must always bring home its sons and daughters.
The body of IDF soldier Tzvi Feldman, who had been declared missing after a battle in Lebanon in 1982, was recovered from Syria in a special mission by the Mossad and the Israel Defense Forces. pic.twitter.com/E3RhtDUPGF
— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) May 11, 2025
The operation marked the culmination of more than four decades of intelligence and field efforts, conducted in close coordination among the Prime Minister’s Office’s hostage and missing persons coordinators, the Mossad, the IDF Intelligence Directorate, the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and the IDF Personnel Directorate.
The family of Katz was also updated on the recovery of Feldman’s remains and the continued efforts to locate their missing loved one.
Netanyahu expressed his deep appreciation to all agencies involved, including the Mossad, IDF and Shin Bet, and Hostage and Missing Coordinator Brig.-Gen. (res.) Gal Hirsch, praising their “principled, determined and courageous” work.
Quoting the Prophet Jeremiah, Netanyahu concluded: “There is hope for your future, declares the Lord, and your children shall return to their own border.”
The Israeli defence establishment reaffirmed its commitment to bring back all Israeli captives and MIAs—whether living, slain, missing or abducted—through unwavering effort, day and night.
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