Israel seeks remains of famed spy Eli Cohen amid Syrian upheaval

Israel is leveraging Syria's political instability in a renewed effort to locate the remains of legendary spy Eli Cohen and two soldiers missing for over four decades, according to Lebanese media reports.

The initiative was reported by Hezbollah-affiliated newspaper Al-Akhbar. Multiple diplomatic sources familiar with the matter say Israeli officials have approached various parties seeking information about Cohen's unmarked grave in Damascus.

Cohen, whose mind-blowing story inspired a recent Netflix series, penetrated Syria's highest political echelons in the early 1960s, providing Israel with critical military intelligence before his capture and public execution in 1965. His burial site has remained a closely guarded Syrian secret for nearly 60 years.

The search extends beyond Cohen to include Yehuda Katz and Zvi Feldman, Israeli soldiers missing since the 1982 Sultan Yaakov battle in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. Their case gained renewed attention in 2019 when Russian cooperation led to the recovery of a third soldier's remains.

The timing aligns with broader regional shifts. Syrian opposition forces have recently gained territory, potentially providing access to previously restricted areas and records. Israeli officials are also seeking to recover historic Jewish artifacts, including ancient Torah scrolls, according to the Lebanese report.

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office declined to comment on the report. A senior Israeli defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, described the recovery efforts as "an ongoing national priority."

Channel 14 contributed to this article.