June 13, 2009 - Naharnet - Israeli Soldiers Missing in Sultan Yacoub

Israeli General Sees Some Progress on Issue of Soldiers Missing in Sultan Yacoub

Eyal Ben Reuven, an Israeli general in the reserves, has said that efforts continue to find three Israeli soldiers missing in a battle with Syrian troops in Lebanon in 1982.
"Some progress has been made," Reuven told the Yedioth Aharonoth website Friday.

The general is with the "Born To Freedom" organization and maintains contact with the families of the three soldiers. The organization has offered a $10 million reward to anyone who comes forward with information concerning the missing soldiers.

About twenty Israeli soldiers were killed and Yehuda Katz, Zvi Feldman and Zachary Baumel were allegedly captured in the battle of Sultan Yacoub during an ambush by Syrian troops on June 12, 1982.

Baumel's father, Yona, died two weeks ago. Since the soldier's capture, Baumel did everything he could to learn what his son's fate, and tried to verify reports that his son and the other two soldiers were being held captive in Syria.