Official announcements from the Israeli government or credible news sources such as BBC, Reuters, or Associated Press

Israel Engages Syrian Opposition in Search for Eli Cohen's Burial Site

Dec 14, 2024, 02:17 PM

Israel has initiated diplomatic efforts to locate the burial site of Eli Cohen, a legendary Mossad spy who was executed in Damascus in 1965. According to reports from the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, citing diplomatic sources, Israel has reached out to external intermediaries, including a Mossad delegation, and Syrian actors, such as the Syrian opposition, in an attempt to find Cohen's remains. Cohen, known for his infiltration into the Syrian government under the guise of a businessman, had established significant influence within the Syrian elite before his capture. His intelligence contributions were pivotal in the 1967 Six-Day War. Despite previous refusals by Syrian authorities to disclose his burial location or return his body, Israel's efforts continue, leveraging the current instability in Syria. Cohen's life and espionage activities have been portrayed in the Netflix series 'The Spy'.