Amid fierce battles with Hezbollah, Israel’s military executed a covert operation in Lebanon to find traces of Ron Arad, the airman lost 40 years ago. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally disclosed the Friday night raid, framing it as a testament to national perseverance.
Posting on X, Netanyahu wrote: ‘Last night, our brave soldiers embarked on a special mission to find and return soldier Ron Arad, captured in Lebanon nearly 40 years ago. We’ve pursued this goal tirelessly for years.’ The announcement electrified the nation, stirring memories of a long-forgotten tragedy.
The IDF zeroed in on a cemetery in Nabi Chit, eastern Lebanon, acting on intelligence gleaned from recent evacuation orders and battlefield intel. Overnight digging aimed to uncover remains from Arad’s 1986 crash, when his jet went down during a mission, leading to his capture.
Arad’s disappearance remains one of Israel’s most poignant mysteries. Ejected from his stricken F-4, he was last seen in militia hands before vanishing into the abyss of Lebanon’s civil war chaos. Families and officials have chased leads across decades, from ransom demands to unverified sightings.
Crucially, the IDF reported zero losses and no shots fired, crediting precise planning. ‘Our commitment to repatriating every soldier—dead or alive—is absolute,’ commanders affirmed.
Contrasting narratives emerged from Lebanon, where officials decried Israeli actions, reporting 16 killed and dozens wounded. Such conflicting accounts are par for the course in this protracted conflict zone.
This raid, conducted under the shadow of broader regional strife, underscores Israel’s ethos: no soldier forgotten. Success or not, it sends a powerful message to adversaries and allies alike about the Jewish state’s unyielding loyalty.