This Day in History: The Captivity of Ron Arad

Lieutenant Colonel Ron Arad, a husband and father, served as a navigator on a Phantom jet in the Israeli Air Force. At the beginning of the year 5747, he was a Captain during a study period as part of his military service but was on emergency duty in Squadron 69.

On the 13th of Tishrei, 5747, Arad flew with pilot Yishai Aviram to attack terrorist targets near Sidon, Lebanon, as part of Operation "House Father 12." However, a maneuver error during the flight caused ammunition to explode near the aircraft, forcing Aviram and Arad to eject.

Pilot Yishai Aviram was rescued by a helicopter sent to the area, but Ron Arad was captured by the Shiite group "Amal."

Initially, the captors sent letters and one photo from Arad to Israel, but all contact was lost from September 1987 onwards. Efforts to release Arad through a deal failed.

As far as it's known, in 1988, Arad was transferred from "Amal" to another Shiite group, and by May of that year, his trail vanished. It is plausible that he was killed, but since the evidence is not conclusive, he is still listed as missing.