IDF Returns Remains of Missing Armor Officer Yehuda Katz After 44 Years

The Israel Defense Forces announced the return of the remains of Lieutenant Colonel Yehuda Yekutiel Katz, an armored corps soldier declared missing since the Battle of Sultan Yaakov in June 1982. This operation was made possible through precise intelligence and persistent efforts by the Military Intelligence Directorate and the Mossad spanning over four decades. Upon arrival in Israel, Katz was identified at the Military Rabbinate's casualty identification center. Katz's parents, Sarah and Yosef Katz, passed away before receiving the news of his return. This mission follows the earlier recoveries of Lieutenant Colonel Zecharia Baumel in 2019 and Lieutenant Colonel Tzvika Feldman in 2025, completing the task of returning all combat missing soldiers. IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir described Katz's return as a significant moment fulfilling the IDF's duty to its fallen. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu noted that he authorized numerous covert operations over the years to locate missing soldiers and pledged the state's continued commitment to recovering all missing personnel, living or deceased. President Isaac Herzog shared that Katz's photo had accompanied him daily in his office as a reminder of the sacred duty to bring the sons home, expressing his support for Katz's family who awaited his return for decades.