IDF Recovers Remains of Last Missing Soldier from 1982 Sultan Yaakov Battle

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have located the remains of Staff Sergeant Yehuda Katz, the last missing soldier from the fierce 1982 Battle of Sultan Yaakov during the First Lebanon War. After 44 years, the military informed Katz's family of the discovery, closing one of the most painful chapters in IDF history.

The battle took place on June 11, 1982, between Israeli forces and the Syrian army near the village of Sultan Yaakov. It was one of the war's bloodiest encounters, with 20 Israeli soldiers killed, dozens wounded, and six declared missing. Three of those missing remained unaccounted for decades.

Previously, the remains of Staff Sergeants Zecharia Baumel and Zvi Feldman were recovered and returned to Israel in 2017 and 2022 respectively. Katz was the final missing soldier from this tragic engagement.

The battle involved a large Israeli armored and infantry force under the command of Brigadier General Avigdor (Yanush) Ben-Gal, with Ehud Barak as deputy and Amram Mitzna as chief of staff. The Israeli troops unknowingly engaged well-positioned Syrian forces, resulting in a brutal eight-hour fight marked by confusion and friendly fire incidents. The Israeli force eventually retreated under heavy artillery fire, leaving eight tanks behind.

The fate of some missing soldiers was later clarified: Zohar Lifshitz was killed and buried in Syria, with his body returned after the war; Arik Lieberman was captured and released after two years; and Chazi Shai was held by a terrorist group and freed in a prisoner exchange.

The battle's circumstances sparked controversy and research, partly due to the heavy losses and unclear outcomes. A later study revealed that the IDF had aerial photos showing Syrian positions that were not shared with frontline troops. After the Oslo Accords, Yasser Arafat handed over half of Baumel's identification disk to Israel.

The recovery of Katz's remains brings closure to a painful military saga and allows his family to finally find peace after decades of uncertainty and hope.