BICOM

A leading Israeli news channel reported last night that an Israeli Air Force navigator, who was captured in Lebanon 30 years ago, is now thought to have died soon after being taken captive.

The report on Channel Two said that new information received by the Mossad intelligence agency and the army’s Intelligence Branch have led them to the conclusion that Ron Arad, whose fate had touched and captivated Israelis since his capture, died within the first two years of captivity.

According to Haaretz, a previous intelligence assessment concluded that Arad had died of an illness in 1995 while in Iranian hands. The new reports and fresh information have apparently been presented to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Arad’s family, which includes a 30-year-old daughter.

In October 1986, Arad flew in a mission against Palestinian targets in Lebanon, alongside pilot Yishai Aviram. One of the bombs dropped by their aircraft exploded prematurely, causing them to eject from the aircraft. Aviram was soon rescued by an Israeli team, but Arad could not be located and was captured by the Shi’ite group Amal.

Arad is thought to have then been handed over to Iranian forces and may have subsequently been moved between Lebanon and Iran. In 1994, elite Israeli forces kidnapped Amal leader Mustafa Dirani, who said under interrogation that Iranian-affiliated forces had taken Arad in 1988.

In 1987, two photos of Arad and three letters in his handwriting were received in Israel. The new security assessments suggest that he died a year later. However, it wasn’t until 2008 that Israel declared Arad dead.