Follow ChabadInfo & Never Miss an Update!

Follow us on Instagram Subscribe to our WhatsApp status and broadcast Follow us on Tiktok Follow us on Facebook Follow us on X Follow us on Google News Subscribe on YouTube

The body of armored corps soldier Staff Sergeant Tzvi Feldman was brought back for burial in Israel from Syrian territory in a secret operation conducted by the Mossad, the IDF, and the Shin Bet.

His body was returned to Israel at the end of last week in a high-risk operation deep inside Syria, executed by the Mossad in collaboration with IDF Military Intelligence (Aman).

The mission inside Syria was led by Lt. Col. “Y,” who had previously left the army and returned to service specifically to lead this operation. The team operated deep in Syria, dozens of kilometers from the Israeli border, where Feldman’s body was located and buried.

Those who operated on the ground were Mossad assets who reached a cemetery deep within the country, risking their lives and confronting armed guards and even coming under fire, until they achieved their objective.

The success came after a breakthrough in operational intelligence over the past five months, which created a unique opportunity to operate in an area formerly under Assad regime control.

The team on the ground was not Israeli. First, a DNA sample was brought to Israel and confirmed to be Feldman’s remains. After that, the body was recovered.

Feldman fell in the Battle of Sultan Yacoub during the First Lebanon War in 1982 and was considered missing for about 43 years. In that battle, 21 IDF soldiers were killed and about 30 wounded.

His funeral is expected to take place tomorrow in Holon. After the body was returned, it was identified at the Military Rabbinate’s DNA identification center.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Feldman family in Tel Aviv this morning (Sunday), along with his military secretary and the POW/MIA coordinator, to personally inform them of Tzvi’s return after 43 years.

His body was returned a few days ago from the heart of Syria in a complex and secret mission which, according to the IDF and Mossad, was made possible by precise intelligence and operational capabilities “which reflected cunning and courage.” The remains were subsequently confirmed at the IDF’s DNA identification center.

This operation marks the closure of a circle and follows a previous mission in 2019 that brought back Staff Sergeant Zachary Baumel, also killed in the same battle. That mission was also enabled by years of research, intelligence gathering, and various operations behind enemy lines. The IDF stated that the family of missing soldier Staff Sergeant Yehuda Katz was informed of Feldman’s return, along with the ongoing efforts to locate their loved one.

“In all the years that have passed, the efforts to locate him and keep his family informed never stopped for a moment,” said the Prime Minister. “About six years ago, we brought back Zachary Baumel, and today we are bringing back Tzvika. We continue working to bring back Staff Sergeant Yehuda Katz, who is still missing from that same battle.”

Netanyahu said that over the years, he authorized many secret operations aimed at locating the Sultan Yacoub MIAs. “I promised the Feldman family I would never stop working to bring Tzvika home. Sadly, his parents – Pnina and Avraham – have already passed away. But today, we return him to his siblings – Itzik, Shlomo, and Anat – and to the soil of the Land of Israel that he loved so deeply.”

He concluded with a quote from the prophet Yirmiyahu: “And there is hope for your future, declares G-D, and your children shall return to their borders.”

Defense Minister Israel Katz stated: “After 43 years of waiting, hope, and tireless effort – the body of Staff Sergeant Tzvi Feldman, an IDF soldier missing since the Battle of Sultan Yacoub, has returned home following a complex joint operation by Mossad agents and IDF soldiers. At this painful moment, my heart is with the Feldman family, who endured decades of pain, uncertainty, and longing. We all bow our heads in mourning with them. Just as we brought back Zachary Baumel and now Tzvi Feldman, we will continue in every way possible to also bring home Staff Sergeant Yehuda Katz and fulfill our duty to him and his family.”

“Israel will not rest until all of its sons and daughters return home. Returning our missing and captive soldiers to our land—both the living and the fallen—is not only a deep commitment but also our moral and national duty.”

Finance Minister and leader of the Religious Zionist Party, Bezalel Smotrich, said: “There is no other nation or country that, even after forty years, spares no effort to bring back its fallen sons and lay them to rest in Israel. This is the brave mutual responsibility at the core of our existence, deeply embedded in our values and identity. It is a great source of pride to be part of the Jewish people on a morning like this.”

“My thanks and appreciation go to the Mossad, the IDF, and all those who worked on this mission with determination and persistence over decades, making this awe-inspiring and emotional moment possible. I send a warm embrace to the Feldman family, who waited with pain and longing all these years. May his memory be a blessing.”

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said: “I commend the Mossad, the IDF, and the POW/MIA coordinator on the operation to bring back the body of Staff Sergeant Tzvi Feldman, who fell in the Battle of Sultan Yacoub and was missing for more than 40 years. The operation reflects Israel’s eternal commitment to its soldiers—we never forget them—and we will continue acting with determination to return all missing persons, whether alive or fallen, including Staff Sergeant Yehuda Katz, who is still missing from the same battle. My deepest condolences to the dear Feldman family.”

28