IDF Trying to Determine Identity of Israeli Soldiers Buried by the Jewish Community of Damascus

The Israel Defense Force is trying to clear up the mystery of the identity of Israeli soldiers buried by the Jewish community of Damascus last month, whose names as reported by the Syrians to the International Red Cross have proved to be those of soldiers still living and serving with the Israel army in Lebanon.

The army spokesman has said that eight soldiers are reported as still missing from fighting on the eastern sector of the Lebanon front. The men officially assumed to be prisoners of the Syrians, include six members of ground troops and two members of a Phantom jet crew shot down on July 24.

The eight do not include the driver of a water tanker which strayed by error into Syrian-held territory last week and who is presumed to have been captured by the Syrians. The driver’s partner is reported to have escaped by commandeering a taxi and ordering the driver to take him back to Israeli-held territory.

The army spokesman pointed out that the foreign press and television reported last month that the Damascus Jewish community had buried four Israeli soldiers in the Damascus Jewish cemetery. The Syrians gave the Red Cross the names of three of them — but upon investigation these proved to be the names of three living soldiers currently serving with the Israel Defense Force.

The army is now trying to clear up the mystery of how the Syrians obtained these names and the identities of the soldiers buried in the Damascus cemetery. The army is also trying to find out what happened to the other men listed as missing.

Israel hopes to recover the one Israeli pilot held by the PLO in west Beirut, whose release Jerusalem is demanding as part of the deal whereby PLO terrorists will be allowed to leave Beirut.