IDF Artillery Officer Recalls Dramatic Battle of Sultan Yaakov After Soldier's Remains Found

Rabbi Eli Ben Dahan, who fought as an artillery officer in the intense Battle of Sultan Yaakov during the First Lebanon War, reflects on the dramatic night and the critical decisions that enabled the rescue of an ambushed armored battalion. After 44 years, the remains of Staff Sergeant Yehuda Katz, the last missing soldier from that battle, were located and returned to Israel, closing a painful chapter for the families and comrades involved.

In an interview with Channel 7, Ben Dahan recounts how 18 artillery battalions were concentrated to provide continuous fire against Syrian positions and tanks controlling the valley near Sultan Yaakov. This relentless artillery barrage allowed the trapped armored forces to maneuver and escape the ambush. Despite the successful rescue, six soldiers, including Katz, were left behind after their tank was hit.

Ben Dahan emphasizes the significance of finally recovering Katz's remains, calling it "the completion of the mission" for the nation and the families. He also criticizes the intelligence failures that led to the armored battalion entering hostile territory without full situational awareness, calling it a grave mistake. However, he praises the artillery's role in saving the majority of the force.

He expresses frustration that Colonel Ehud Bachar, the artillery brigade commander credited with the critical decisions that saved the battalion, never received a formal commendation. Ben Dahan, who served as Deputy Defense Minister, tried to advance a medal of valor for Bachar but was unsuccessful.

The discovery of Katz's remains has deeply moved Ben Dahan, who describes the moment as a powerful closure after decades of searching. He calls it a national mission fulfilled, honoring the memory and sacrifice of those who fought in one of the toughest battles in IDF history.