Night operation in Lebanon aims to recover body of missing Israeli Ron Arad - report
Ron Arad, a navigator in the Israeli Air Force, was captured in 1986 after his combat aircraft was shot down over Lebanon
An Israeli military operation took place overnight in eastern Lebanon, reportedly aimed at recovering the remains of Israeli navigator Ron Arad, who disappeared in 1986 after ejecting from his plane over Lebanon, according to Saudi broadcaster Al-Hadath.
Lebanese media and Hezbollah also reported that Israeli forces attempted a helicopter landing in the Nabi Chit region, a Hezbollah stronghold in the Bekaa Valley. Hezbollah stated that four Israeli helicopters arrived from Syria, and soldiers briefly landed before encountering resistance from local fighters. According to the group, the Israeli troops withdrew under cover of intense airstrikes by the Israeli Air Force.
The Israel Defense Forces has not issued any official comment regarding the operation.
Ron Arad, a navigator in the Israeli Air Force, was captured in 1986 after his combat aircraft was shot down over Lebanon. Despite decades of searches and investigations, his fate remains one of Israel’s most enduring military mysteries. Reports indicate Arad was held for several days in the Nabi Chit area following his capture.
The case has continued to captivate Israel, with efforts to uncover his fate ongoing for nearly 40 years. Last December, Lebanese authorities reported the disappearance of a former security official from Nabi Chit who was involved in Arad’s capture, adding a new layer of intrigue to the decades-old case.