IDF finds possible belongings of soldier missing since 1982 Syria battle

New findings thought to be related to Sgt. First Class Yehuda Katz, who went missing in the First Lebanon War’s battle of Sultan Yacoub in 1982, were found overnight, the military said on Tuesday morning.

The battle, 44 years ago, was a skirmish between the Israel Defense Forces and the Syrian army in Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley. It claimed the lives of 21 Israeli servicemen, and injured more than 30.

Katz, a tank soldier, went missing during the battle, along with Sgt. First Class Zachary Baumel and Sgt. First Class Zvi Feldman.

Baumel’s remains were recovered with Russian assistance and returned to Israel in 2019, and Feldman’s remains were recovered by Mossad agents in May 2025.

Overnight, the IDF carried out a special operation, based on intelligence obtained in recent months, during which new findings were located, according to the military. No details were given on where they were found.

The findings were not Katz’s remains, but are believed to be his personal belongings.

The findings were handed to the family, who were inspecting them. The IDF was also investigating the findings, and only later was it expected to publish a formal statement on the matter, once the family had completed its inspection.