On May 18, 2025, marking 60 years since Israeli spy Eli Cohen’s execution in Damascus, Israel retrieved 2,500 items from Syrian intelligence archives through a covert Mossad operation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced.
According to The Times of Israel, the items, shared with Cohen’s widow, Nadia, include handwritten letters, photos, passports, and mission documents, offering a glimpse into his life as a top agent.
Eli Cohen, Israel’s most renowned spy, successfully infiltrated Syria’s political and military elite in the early 1960s, becoming an advisor to the defence minister. His intelligence was vital for Israel’s victory in the 1967 Six-Day War.
According to the Jerusalem Post, Cohen was captured in January 1965 while attempting to communicate with Israel. He was executed by hanging on May 18, 1965, and his remains have not been returned. Netanyahu referred to him as “an Israeli legend.”
60 שנה לעלייתו לגרדום של אלי כהן ז"ל – היום נפגשתי עם נדיה כהן והצגנו לה מסמכים וחפצים אישיים שהובאו במבצע חשאי של המוסד.
אלי כהן הוא גיבור לאומי וסמל לנחישות. נמשיך לפעול ללא לאות להשבת נעדרינו ושבויינו הביתה.
יהי זכרו ברוך. pic.twitter.com/26Z4XPklde
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) May 18, 2025The recovered items, including worn folders, keys to Cohen’s Damascus apartment, and Nadia’s letters pleading for his release, were held by Syrian intelligence for decades. The operation, detailed by Netanyahu in Jerusalem, underscores Israel’s commitment to Cohen’s legacy, with ongoing efforts to locate his body. A recent recovery of a soldier’s remains from Syria highlights similar efforts.
Nadia Cohen, viewing the items, reiterated the priority of repatriating her husband’s body, per The Guardian. Social media praised the operation but echoed calls for Cohen’s remains, though unverified. The 2019 Netflix series The Spy, starring Sacha Baron Cohen, renewed global interest in his story, per Variety.
Cohen’s archive recovery, a Mossad triumph, honours his sacrifice while fueling Israel’s quest for closure. As the nation reflects on his 1965 execution, the items preserve his legacy as a national hero, with hopes for future repatriation efforts.
