Former IDF POW Chief Reports New Developments in Ron Arad Case, Details Return of Yehuda Katz's Remains

Avi Kalo, former head of the IDF's Prisoners of War and Missing Persons Department, revealed recent progress in the long-standing case of Ron Arad, an Israeli airman missing since 1986. Speaking on August 20, 2026, Kalo highlighted that the focus of the Arad investigation has shifted from Iran to Lebanon, where new developments have emerged.

Kalo also recounted the efforts that led to the recovery of the remains of Yehuda Katz, the last fallen soldier from the First Lebanon War. He described the operation as a deeply challenging and emotional mission, involving a decade-long coordinated effort among various intelligence and military units. The operation required establishing a presence near Damascus despite the risks posed by the Assad regime, underscoring the complexity of the mission.

Due to censorship constraints, Kalo withheld some operational details but emphasized the historical significance of the recovery, which took place about three kilometers south of the battle site on June 11, 1982. He compared the chaotic circumstances of Katz's retrieval to the confusion during the October 7, 2023, attacks, noting how in both cases, Israeli equipment and remains were lost amid the turmoil.

Kalo described the mission to recover missing soldiers as a "Sisyphean journey" marked by emotional highs and lows, reflecting the deep moral and national commitment within Israeli society to bring home its fallen. He praised the current teams working on these cases for their dedication and highlighted the profound connection these efforts have to Israeli identity and values.

The developments in the Ron Arad case and the successful recovery of Katz's remains underscore Israel's ongoing commitment to accounting for its missing soldiers, even decades after conflicts have ended.