Israel Recovers Remains of Yehuda Katz, Last Missing Soldier from 1982 Sultan Yacoub Battle

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Mossad announced that the remains of Sergeant Yehuda Katz, the final soldier still listed as missing from the Battle of Sultan Yacoub, were located in a covert operation conducted overnight. Joint military-intelligence teams retrieved the remains from Lebanese territory, transferred them to Israel, and subjected them to forensic and genetic identification at the Military Rabbinate’s Center for the Identification of Fallen Soldiers. The IDF confirmed that the family was notified after the identification process was completed.

YnetNewsNetanyahu Announces Recovery of Soldier Yehuda Katz’s Remains After 44 Years YnetNewsi24NEWSThe Jerusalem PostTimes of IsraelYnetNews

The Battle of Sultan Yacoub, fought on June 11, 1982, was one of the costliest engagements of the First Lebanon War. Israeli armored forces clashed with Syrian troops in the Beqaa Valley, resulting in 21 Israeli deaths, more than 30 injuries, and six soldiers left behind. Three of those six remained missing for decades: Sergeant Zachary Baumel (remains returned on April 3, 2019), Staff Sergeant Zvi Feldman (remains returned on May 11, 2025), and Yehuda Katz, whose fate remained unresolved until now.

i24NEWS

• 44 years elapsed between Katz’s disappearance and the recovery of his remains.

The Jerusalem Post

• The battle left 21 Israeli servicemen dead and 30+ wounded.

i24NEWS

• Six soldiers were initially left on the battlefield; three have now been accounted for.

YnetNews

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his commitment to locating the missing, thanking the IDF, Mossad, Shin Bet and the captives-and-missing-persons coordinator. President Isaac Herzog described the return as the closure of a “painful circle” that had persisted for more than four decades. The IDF spokesperson confirmed that the remains were brought to Israel and identified, but withheld the exact location of the operation pending family consultation.

YnetNews

• “Decades have passed, but our duty to our fallen has not changed. We will not leave any of our people behind,” — Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir

YnetNews

• “The circle of the great effort to save the armored battalion that was caught in a Syrian ambush has closed.” — Dahan

The Jerusalem Post

While most outlets report that Katz’s remains were identified and are being prepared for burial, a separate report from *Times of Israel* indicates that the overnight findings were “possible belongings” rather than full remains, and that the family was still inspecting the items before a formal statement could be issued. No source provided the precise recovery site, and the IDF has not disclosed whether the remains are complete or consist of partial fragments. This discrepancy leaves open questions about the exact nature of the material recovered and the timeline for a public burial ceremony.

Times of Israel

The IDF said it will release a detailed statement after the family completes its inspection of the recovered material. Further forensic verification and coordination with the Military Rabbinate are expected before a burial arrangement is announced.

Netanyahu Announces Recovery of Soldier Yehuda Katz’s Remains After 44 Years