Israeli army: We did not find the remains of "Ron Arad" in yesterday's operation in Al-Nabi Sheet

Israeli army: We did not find the remains of "Ron Arad" in yesterday's operation in Al-Nabi Sheet

The Israeli military confirmed that its forces did not locate the remains of missing navigator Ron Arad during a nighttime operation in Lebanon’s Nabi Sheet region on March 6, 2026. The operation, conducted by special forces via helicopter, aimed to search for clues regarding Arad’s fate, who has been missing since 1986 after being captured during an operational mission over southern Lebanon according to reports. Avichay Adraee, the Israeli Defense Forces’ Arabic-language spokesperson, stated that no evidence related to Arad was found and that the operation resulted in no Israeli casualties as reported.

The operation triggered significant civilian and military casualties. Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported at least 26 deaths and 35 injuries, including three Lebanese Army soldiers and a member of the General Security from the Shukr family, a clan linked to Arad’s capture according to official figures. Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group, claimed its fighters engaged Israeli forces near the Shukr family cemetery, asserting that the operation was repelled through coordinated gunfire and artillery fire as Hezbollah claimed. Israeli airstrikes preceded and accompanied the ground operation, exacerbating destruction in the area according to military reports.

This marks the latest in decades of Israeli efforts to uncover information about Arad’s disappearance, a case that has remained unresolved since the late 1980s. The operation also follows the December 2025 disappearance of Ahmad Shukr, a former Lebanese security official suspected of holding critical information about Arad’s fate as reported. While the immediate military objective was not achieved, the incident underscores the enduring geopolitical and humanitarian complexities of the region.