Remains of Yehuda Katz, Last Missing Soldier from Sultan Yaakov Battle, Recovered

The remains of Yehuda Katz, the last missing Israeli soldier from the 1982 Battle of Sultan Yaakov, have been recovered and returned. The Israeli defense establishment is in contact with Katz's family. Born on July 18, 1959, in Ramat Gan to Holocaust survivor parents Yosef and Sarah, Katz was known for his exceptional academic talents and deep dedication to religious studies. He enlisted in the military under the "Hesder" program and joined his comrades when the Lebanon War broke out. Katz was sent to fight in the Battle of Sultan Yaakov just ten days before his scheduled discharge.

The battle, which took place on June 11, 1982, resulted in the deaths of 20 Israeli soldiers and many injuries, occurring hours before a ceasefire. After the battle, six soldiers were declared missing; among them, two were later returned as prisoners of war, and tank commander Zohar Lifshitz was confirmed killed with his body recovered. Yehuda Katz, along with Zecharia Baumel and Tzvi Feldman, were long considered missing in action from this battle. Baumel's remains were found and brought back to Israel in 2019, and Feldman's body was recovered in May 2025. Katz's fate remained unknown until now.

Feldman's body was returned in a secret Mossad operation, and Baumel's remains were repatriated from Syria in 2019 with Russian assistance. The recovery of Katz's remains marks the closure of a decades-long chapter for the families and the Israeli military.